Naringin Protects Against Cartilage Destruction in Osteoarthritis Through Repression of NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Naringin was previously reported as a multifunctional agent. Recently, naringin was found to play a protective role in various inflammatory conditions. However, the role of naringin in cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis (OA) progression is still unknown. TNF-α is reported to play a detrimental role in OA. Herein, primary murine chondrocytes were isolated and cultured with stimulation of TNF-α, in the presence or absence of naringin treatment. As a result, naringin attenuated TNF-α-mediated inflammation and catabolism in chondrocyte. Besides, surgically induced OA mice models were established. Cartilage degradation and OA severity were evaluated using Safranin-O staining, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. Moreover, levels of inflammatory cytokines and catabolic markers in OA were analyzed. Oral administration of naringin alleviated degradation of cartilage matrix and protected against OA development in the surgically induced OA models. Furthermore, the protective function of naringin in cartilage and chondrocyte was possibly due to suppression of NF-κB signaling pathway. Collectively, this study presents naringin as a potential target for the treatment of joint degenerative diseases, including OA.

Keywords: NF-κB signaling; TNF-α; chondrocyte; naringin; osteoarthritis.