Role of TLR2 and TLR4 in regulation of articular chondrocyte homeostasis

Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated catabolic responses are implicated to contribute to osteoarthritis (OA). However, deficiency of TLRs has little chondroprotection in mice in vivo. Here, we studied the effect of deficiency of TLR2 and TLR4 in articular chondrocytes on cellular stress responses in vitro.

Chondrocytes isolated from TLR2 and TLR4 double knockout (TLR2/4dKO) and wild type (WT) mice and recombinant HMGB1 (rHMGB1) and LPS were used. Expression of anti-oxidant and DNA repair enzymes including SOD1, SOD2 and OGG1, and phosphorylation of H2AX (a marker for DNA damage) were examined by Western blotting. MitoSOX Red staining was used for assessing mitochondrial superoxide generation. Autophagic activity was monitored by flow cytometry analysis of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of GFP and RFP in chondrocytes transfected with a tandem GFP-mRFP-LC3 plasmid, and by Western blot analysis of expression of LC3 and p62, a selective autophagy adaptor.

Basal expression of SOD2 but not SOD1 was largely reduced in TLR2/4dKO compared to WT chondrocytes, correlated with significantly enhanced menadione-induced mitochondrial superoxide generation (2.85-3.92 and 3.39 to 8.97 with mean difference 3.39 and 6.18 for 25 and 50μM menadione, respectively) and phosphorylation of H2AX. LPS and rHMGB1 induced expression of SOD2, OGG1 and p62 in WT but not TLR2/4dKO chondrocytes. Autophagy flux was impaired in TLR2/4dKO chondrocytes after acute nutrient stress and by LPS and rHMGB1.

TLR2 and TLR4 deficiency appears to reduce chondrocyte anti-oxidative stress and autophagy flux capacity, which may compromise cartilage homeostasis as a result of chondrocyte dysfunction.