Mechanism Research On A Potential Role Of Quercetin As A Regulator In Articular Chondrocytes

Objective: The difficulty in the treatment of cartilage defect is that the cartilage tissue is barely repaired by itself.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on chondrocytes proliferation ability,maintenance of phenotype,and to further explore its regulation of intracellular signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms.It provides a theoretical basis for the application of quercetin in cartilage tissue engineering.Methods: The proliferation of chondrocytes was examined by MTT;the expression of chondrogenic marker genes,including Aggrecan,COLII,SOX9,of chondrocytes treated with quercetin were determined by RT-PCR;the synthesis of extracellular matrix(ECM)was detected by the staining of toluidine blue and alcian blue;the effects of quercetin on MAPK and AKT signaling pathways were verified by Western blot.Furthermore,the effects of quercetin on the phenotype of chondrocyte were proved by RT-PCR and staining under the inhibition of related signaling pathways.Results: Quercetin can promote the proliferation of chondrocytes and the maintenance of chondrogenic phenotype at certain concentrations.Quercetin can promote the proliferation of chondrocytes while the concentration range were 0.5-10?M.Quercetin can promote the secretion of extracellular matrix and the expression of chondrogenic marker genes at 0.5-5?M concentration.moreover,when the concentration of quercetin is 1.5?M,it has the greatest effect on chondrocytes.Quercetin can also activate MAPK signaling downstream of ERK,P38 and ATK signaling pathways,but has no obvious effect on activation of JNK signaling pathway.Conclusion: Quercetin could remarkably improve the proliferation of rat chondrocytes and maintain its phenotype through ERK,p-38 and AKT signaling pathways.