Oral administration of EP4-selective agonist KAG-308 suppresses mouse knee osteoarthritis development through reduction of chondrocyte hypertrophy and TNF secretion

Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 30;9(1):20329. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-56861-6.

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the world's most common degenerative diseases, but there is no disease-modifying treatment available. Previous studies have shown that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGE2 receptor 4 (EP4) are involved in OA pathogenesis; however, their roles are not fully understood. Here, we examined the efficacy of oral administration of KAG-308, an EP4-selective agonist, in surgically induced mouse knee OA. Cartilage degeneration and synovitis were significantly inhibited by the KAG-308 treatment. Chondrocyte hypertrophy and expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (Mmp13) in the synovium were suppressed in the KAG-308-treated mice. In cultured chondrocytes, hypertrophic differentiation was inhibited by KAG-308 and intranuclear translocation of histone deacetylase 4 (Hdac4) was enhanced. In cultured synoviocytes, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of TNF and Mmp13 was also suppressed by KAG-308. KAG-308 was detected in the synovium and cartilage of orally treated mice. TNF secretion from the synovia of KAG-308-treated mice was significantly lower than control mice. Thus, we conclude that oral administration of KAG-308 suppresses OA development through suppression of chondrocyte hypertrophy and synovitis. KAG-308 may be a potent candidate for OA drug development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biopsy
  • Cartilage / drug effects
  • Cartilage / metabolism
  • Cartilage / pathology
  • Chondrocytes / drug effects*
  • Chondrocytes / metabolism*
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epoprostenol / administration & dosage
  • Epoprostenol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Epoprostenol / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / drug therapy
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / metabolism*
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / pathology*
  • Protein Transport
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Synovial Membrane / drug effects
  • Synovial Membrane / metabolism
  • Synovial Membrane / pathology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • KAG-308
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP4 Subtype
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Epoprostenol
  • Cyclic AMP