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Published on: December 10, 2010
Statin stimulates bone morphogenetic protein-2, aggrecan, and type 2 collagen gene expression and proteoglycan
Hiroshi Hatano1, Akihiro Maruo, Mark E Bolander
1Department of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, MSB 3-69, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Abstract:
Statins increase bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) mRNA expression and subsequently increase new bone formation in vitro. However, the action of statins on the BMP-2 mRNA regulation of cartilage matrix synthesis by chondrocytes is unknown. We evaluated regulation of BMP-2, aggrecan, and type II collagen (COL2) mRNA and (35)S-labeled proteoglycan (PG) synthesis by mevastatin using cultured chondrocytes obtained from articular cartilage of fetal rats. Expression of BMP-2, aggrecan, and COL2 mRNAs were increased in the presence of 2 microM mevastatin on day 2. However, longer (10 day) culture in the presence of the drug decreased the expression of these mRNAs. PG synthesis was increased 3 days after treating the cells with mevastatin, which was also decreased with longer (10 day) mevastatin treatment. These results suggest that mevastatin increases mRNA expression of BMP-2, aggrecan, and COL2 as well as PG synthesis by fetal rat chondrocytes early in the treatment period. We suggest that statins have implications for fracture and cartilage repair.
