Protective effects of curcumin on oxidative stress injury of chondrocytes of rats in vitro

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2016.23.001

Abstract：Objective To observe the protective effects of curcumin on chondrocytes through setting up the models of chondrocytes injury of rats in vitro induced by H 2 O2 K.Methods The articular chondrocytes of SD rats were prepared and cultured in vitro,which were randomly divided into five groups:control group, model group (H2O2), low-dose curcumin group (20μmol/L),median-dose curcumin group (40μmol/L) and high-dose curcumin group (80μmol/L).On 48 hours after the articular chondrocytes were cultured in culture medium with curcumin , H2 O2 was added into the culture medium and co-cultured for 24 hous, then the articular chondrocytes were collected .The cell proliferation ability and the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA),catalase (CAT) were detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry , respectively.The expression levels of Nrf2 mRNA and protein were detected by Real-time PCR and Western Blot,respectively. Results As compared with those in control group ,the survival rates of chondrocytes in model group were decreased ,and the numbers of chondrocytes with mitotic figure in stage S and G 2/M were obviously decreased .The contents of SOD and CAT were decreased,however,the levels of MDA were increased.The expression levels of Nrf2 mRNA and protein were down-regulated. After the chondrocytes were pretreated by curcumin , the survival rates of chondrocytes were increased , the cell proliferation ability was improved , and the contents of SOD and CAT were increased , however , the levels of MDA were decreased .The expression levels of Nrf2 mRNA and protein were increased with the increase of concentration of curcumin .Conclusion The curcumin has protective effects on oxidative stress injury of chondrocytes by increasing the expression levels of Nrf 2.