Evaluation of the chondroprotective action of N-acetylglucosamine in a rat experimental osteoarthritis model

  • Authors:
    • Daiki Kubomura
    • Tomoya Ueno
    • Masanori Yamada
    • Isao Nagaoka
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 28, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4849
  • Pages: 3137-3144
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Abstract

It has been demonstrated that oral administration of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) alleviates the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms for the chondroprotective action of GlcNAc in OA. Biomarkers for type II collagen degradation and synthesis were evaluated, as were histopathological changes, using a rat anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)‑induced OA model. Changes in the expression of genes in the cartilage were assessed via DNA microarray and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). The results indicated that ACLT induced histopathological changes of articular cartilage, whereas oral administration of GlcNAc (1,000 mg/kg/day for 28 days) significantly suppressed these changes. Additionally, GlcNAc significantly decreased levels of a type II collagen degradation marker in sera compared with that in the ACLT group, although there were no significant changes in the levels of a type II collagen synthesis marker. Furthermore, DNA microarray and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction results demonstrated that GlcNAc treatment downregulated the expression of periostin, which is likely involved in the degradation of cartilage, whereas GlcNAc upregulated the expression of lipocalin 2, which is involved in the regulation of chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that GlcNAc is able to suppress the histopathological changes induced by OA and exhibits a chondroprotective action by inhibiting type II collagen degradation in the articular cartilage, possibly via modulation of the expression of inflammatory and chondroprotective molecules, including periostin and lipocalin 2.

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October-2017
Volume 14 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Kubomura D, Ueno T, Yamada M and Nagaoka I: Evaluation of the chondroprotective action of N-acetylglucosamine in a rat experimental osteoarthritis model. Exp Ther Med 14: 3137-3144, 2017
APA
Kubomura, D., Ueno, T., Yamada, M., & Nagaoka, I. (2017). Evaluation of the chondroprotective action of N-acetylglucosamine in a rat experimental osteoarthritis model. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 14, 3137-3144. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4849
MLA
Kubomura, D., Ueno, T., Yamada, M., Nagaoka, I."Evaluation of the chondroprotective action of N-acetylglucosamine in a rat experimental osteoarthritis model". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14.4 (2017): 3137-3144.
Chicago
Kubomura, D., Ueno, T., Yamada, M., Nagaoka, I."Evaluation of the chondroprotective action of N-acetylglucosamine in a rat experimental osteoarthritis model". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 14, no. 4 (2017): 3137-3144. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4849