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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Mechanical Stimulation of Chondrocyte-agarose Hydrogels
Published on: October 27, 2012
Differential effect of molecular size HA in mouse chondrocytes stimulated with PMA
Giuseppe M Campo1, Angela Avenoso, Salvatore Campo
1Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, section of Medical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Policlinico Universitario, Torre Biologica, 5 degrees piano, Via C. Valeria, 98125, Messina, Italy. gcampo@unime.it
Background:
Hyaluronan (HA) fragments elicit the expression of inflammatory mediators through a mechanism involving the CD44 receptor. This study investigated the effects of HA at different molecular weights on PMA-induced inflammation in mouse chondrocytes.
Methods:
mRNA and related protein levels were measured for CD44, PKCdelta, PKCepsilon, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, MMP-13, and iNOS in chondrocytes, untreated or PMA treated, with and without the addition of HA. The level of NF-kB activation was also assayed.
Results:
CD44, PKCdelta, and PKCepsilon mRNA expression resulted higher than controls in chondrocytes treated with PMA. PMA also induced NF-kB up-regulation and increased TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, MMP-13, and iNOS expression. HA treatment produced different effects: low MW HA up-regulated CD44 expression, increased PKCdelta and PKCepsilon levels, and enhanced inflammation in untreated chondrocytes; while in PMA-treated cells it increased CD44, PKCdelta, PKCepsilon, NF-kB, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, MMP-13, and iNOS expression and enhanced the effects of PMA; medium MW HA did not exert action; high MW HA had no effect on untreated chondrocytes; however, it reduced PKCdelta, PKCepsilon, NF-kB activation and inflammation in PMA-stimulated cells. Specific CD44 blocking antibody was utilised to confirm CD44 as the target of HA modulation.
General Significance:
These data suggest that HA via CD44 may modulate inflammation via its different molecular mass.
