Home
Resources
Publications
Ipriflavone Attenuates the Degeneration of Cartilage by Blocking the Indian Hedgehog Pathway

Ipriflavone Attenuates the Degeneration of Cartilage by Blocking the Indian Hedgehog Pathway

Li Guo, Xiaochun Wei, Zhiwei Zhang, Xiaojian Wang, Chunli Wang, Pengcui Li, Chunfang Wang, Lei Wei

Arthritis Res Ther. 2019 May 2;21(1):109.

PMID: 31046827

Abstract:

Background:
To determine if ipriflavone, a novel and safe inhibitor of Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling, can attenuate cartilage degeneration by blocking the Ihh pathway.
Methods:
Human chondrocytes were used to evaluate Ihh signaling, cell proliferation, apoptosis, gene, and protein expression of chondrocytes by cell proliferation and apoptosis assays, real-time qPCR, and Western blotting at 48 h after ipriflavone treatment. Human cartilage explants were further used to validate the cell culture results. The effects of ipriflavone on cartilage degeneration in vivo were assessed using the rat ACLT OA model. Two-month-old male SD rats were randomized into 3 groups (n = 75): (1) sham, (2) ACLT alone, and (3) ACLT+ ipriflavone. Ipriflavone was administered intragastrically at 24 h after ACLT for 6 weeks. The extent of OA progression was evaluated by the OARSI score and immunohistochemistry at 12 weeks after surgery. The Ihh signaling pathway and OA-related genes were quantified by real-time PCR.
Results:
Cell proliferation in the cells treated with ipriflavone was increased to 36.40% ± 1.32% (5 μM) and 28.54% ± 0.74% (10 μM) from 11.99% ± 0.35% (DMSO) (P < 0.001), and apoptosis was decreased to 12.64% ± 3.7% (5 μM) and 15.18% ± 3.13% (10 μM) from 25.76% ± 5.1% (DMSO) (P < 0.05). Ipriflavone blocked Runx-2 mainly through the Smo-Gli2 pathway. A similar result was found in the cartilage explant culture. Ihh signaling in vivo was inhibited in animals treated with ipriflavone. Safranin-O staining revealed a less cartilage damage with lower OARSI scores (P < 0.05) in the ipriflavone-treated animals compared with untreated animals. The gene expression of Smo and Gli2 was inhibited significantly by ipriflavone (P < 0.05). The OA-related gene and protein type X, MMP-13, and type II collagen-C fragment were reduced, while type II collagen and Agg were increased in the ipriflavone-treated animals (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Catabolic genes were disrupted by blocking the Ihh pathway. This finding suggests that disruption of Ihh signaling with ipriflavone provides chondral protection in rat posttraumatic OA.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP35212227	Ipriflavone		35212-22-7	Price

As a specialist in analytical chemical Products, Alfa Chemistry offers consumers a wealth of raw materials and a full range of technologies and services.

QUICK LINKS

HEADQUARTERS

Tel:

Fax:

Email: