CRNDE alleviates IL-1β-induced chondrocyte damage by modulating miR-31/NF-κB pathway

The long non-coding RNA CRNDE (CRNDE) has been identified as a lncRNA associated with osteoarthritis (OA), playing a role the age-related degeneration of articular cartilage. However, the precise mechanism by which CRNDE affects the physiological functions of OA chondrocytes remains unclear.

To simulate the inflammatory conditions observed in OA, interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated chondrocyte C-28/I2 cells were utilized. The expression levels of CRNDE and miR-31 were assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Chondrocyte viability and apoptosis were evaluated through CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The levels of IL-6, IL-1β and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). mRNA expression levels of MMP-13, Aggrecan and COL2A1 were detected by quantitative RT-PCR. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the protein levels of factors related to cartilage matrix degradation, including p-p65, p65 and p-IκBα of the NF-κB pathway.

CRNDE expression was downregulated in both OA cartilage tissues and IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. Overexpression of CRNDE mitigated IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes apoptosis, inflammatory responses, and cartilage matrix degradation. Compared with healthy controls, OA tissues exhibited reduced expression of miR-31, which was negatively correlated with the expression of CRNDE. Additionally, overexpression of miR-31 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of CRNDE on apoptosis, inflammation, cartilage matrix degradation, and the inactivation of Nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway induced by IL-1β stimulation. Moreover, silencing of CRNDE exacerbated IL-1β-induced chondrocytes damage, which was aliviated by the NF-κB pathway inhibitor, Bay 11-7082.

CRNDE alleviated IL-1β-induced injuries in OA chondrocytes by suppressing the miR-31-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway.