The T-2 toxin exerts a variety of toxic effects on both experimental animals and humans. The integrin family plays a major role in mediating cell-ECM interactions. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the involvement of integrin α2β1 in T-2 toxin-induced C28/I2 chondrocyte damage. The pathological damage of articular cartilage injury induced by T-2 toxin was observed by H&E staining. The expression levels of collagen 2 and MMP-13 (Matrix metalloproteinases 13) were detected using immunohistochemistry in articular cartilage tissues and western blotting in the cells. The blocking effect of integrin α2β1 inhibitor on T-2 toxin-induced chondrocyte matrix degradation was examined by western blotting. Further, the effect of integrin α2β1 inhibitor on T-2 toxin-induced chondrocyte apoptosis was analyzed. About 100 ng/g body weight (BW)/day T-2 toxin was fed to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, T-2 toxin treatment (0, 6, 12, and 24 ng/mL) induced C28/I2 chondrocytes. Both in vivo and in vitro, chondrocyte survival was inhibited, and the production of type II collagen was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). However, the level of MMP-13 was up-regulated (p < 0.05). Matrix degradation was effectively blocked after the pre-treatment by integrin α2β1 inhibitor (p < 0.05). Conclusively, Integrin α2β1 is a critical signaling pathway for communication between cells and the extracellular matrix, the present study provides a new clue to elucidate the mechanism of T-2 toxin-induced chondrocyte damage.
Keywords: C28/I2 chondrocytes; ECM; Integrin α2β1; MMP-13; T-2 toxin; Type II collagen.
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