Research article
Sulforaphane has opposing effects on TNF-alpha stimulated and unstimulated synoviocytes
- † Equal contributors
1 Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
2 Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
3 Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
4 Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein UK-SH, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller Strasse 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012, 14:R220 doi:10.1186/ar4059
Published: 27 October 2012Abstract
Introduction
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by progressive inflammation associated with rampantly proliferating synoviocytes and joint destruction due to oxidative stress. Recently, we described nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) as a major requirement for limiting cartilage destruction. NF-κB and AP-1 are the main transcription factors triggering the inflammatory progression in RA. We used sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate, which is both an Nrf2 inducer and a NF-κB and AP-1 inhibitor.
Methods
Cultured synoviocytes were stimulated with sulforaphane (SFN) with or without TNF-α pre-treatment. NF-κB, AP-1, and Nrf2 activation was investigated via dual luciferase reporter gene assays. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were measured via zymography and luminex technique. Cytokine levels were detected using ELISA. Cell viability, apoptosis and caspase activity were studied. Cell proliferation was analysed by real-time cell analysis.
Results
SFN treatment decreased inflammation and proliferation dose-dependently in TNF-α-stimulated synoviocytes. SFN did not reduce MMP-3 and MMP-9 activity or expression significantly. Interestingly, we demonstrated that SFN has opposing effects on naïve and TNF-α-stimulated synoviocytes. In naïve cells, SFN activated the cytoprotective transcription factor Nrf2. In marked contrast to this, SFN induced apoptosis in TNF-α-pre-stimulated synoviocytes.
Conclusions
We were able to show that SFN treatment acts contrary on naïve and inflammatory synoviocytes. SFN induces the cytoprotective transcription factor Nrf2 in naïve synoviocytes, whereas it induces apoptosis in inflamed synoviocytes. These findings indicate that the use of sulforaphane might be considered as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy to combat inflammation, pannus formation, and cartilage destruction in RA.
