Nano-encapsulated active protein AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation in experimental osteoarthritis rats via SIRT1-regulated nexilin expression nano-AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive cartilage matrix degradation. Although adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) shows promise in treating OA, its clinical application is limited by poor bioavailability. Nano-encapsulation may overcome this limitation, b...

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Main Authors: X You, LQ Wu, LL Fu, QQ Wu, BR Qi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Forum Multimedia Publishing LLC 2025-04-01
Series:European Cells & Materials
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Online Access:https://www.ecmjournal.org/papers/vol050/vol050a07.php
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author X You
LQ Wu
LL Fu
QQ Wu
BR Qi
author_facet X You
LQ Wu
LL Fu
QQ Wu
BR Qi
author_sort X You
collection DOAJ
description Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive cartilage matrix degradation. Although adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) shows promise in treating OA, its clinical application is limited by poor bioavailability. Nano-encapsulation may overcome this limitation, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: OA was induced in rats using the anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) model, followed by intra-articular injection of nano-AMPK. Cartilage degradation was assessed by Masson staining and immunohistochemistry. The molecular mechanism was investigated using interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)-induced rat chondrocytes, with or without sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor (EX527) treatment and Nexilin silencing. The expression of cartilage matrix components, degradative enzymes, and signaling molecules was analyzed by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: Nano-AMPK treatment significantly reduced cartilage degradation in ACLT rats, which was evidenced by increased collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1) and aggrecan expression and decreased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-13, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) levels. In vitro studies revealed that nano-AMPK protected against IL-1β-induced matrix degradation by upregulating SIRT1 and Nexilin expression. Either SIRT1 inhibition or Nexilin silencing abolished the protective effects of nano-AMPK, indicating that the SIRT1-Nexilin pathway mediates nano-AMPK’s chondroprotective effects. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that nano-encapsulated AMPK effectively prevented cartilage matrix degradation in experimental OA through a previously unidentified SIRT1-regulated Nexilin pathway, providing new insights into OA treatment strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-8df45428b3834ea49bf4e9cfc84e6a4b2025-08-20T03:53:12ZengForum Multimedia Publishing LLCEuropean Cells & Materials1473-22622025-04-015010912310.22203/eCM.v050a07Nano-encapsulated active protein AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation in experimental osteoarthritis rats via SIRT1-regulated nexilin expression nano-AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradationX YouLQ WuLL FuQQ WuBR QiBackground: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive cartilage matrix degradation. Although adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) shows promise in treating OA, its clinical application is limited by poor bioavailability. Nano-encapsulation may overcome this limitation, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: OA was induced in rats using the anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) model, followed by intra-articular injection of nano-AMPK. Cartilage degradation was assessed by Masson staining and immunohistochemistry. The molecular mechanism was investigated using interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)-induced rat chondrocytes, with or without sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor (EX527) treatment and Nexilin silencing. The expression of cartilage matrix components, degradative enzymes, and signaling molecules was analyzed by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: Nano-AMPK treatment significantly reduced cartilage degradation in ACLT rats, which was evidenced by increased collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1) and aggrecan expression and decreased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP-13, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) levels. In vitro studies revealed that nano-AMPK protected against IL-1β-induced matrix degradation by upregulating SIRT1 and Nexilin expression. Either SIRT1 inhibition or Nexilin silencing abolished the protective effects of nano-AMPK, indicating that the SIRT1-Nexilin pathway mediates nano-AMPK’s chondroprotective effects. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that nano-encapsulated AMPK effectively prevented cartilage matrix degradation in experimental OA through a previously unidentified SIRT1-regulated Nexilin pathway, providing new insights into OA treatment strategies.https://www.ecmjournal.org/papers/vol050/vol050a07.phposteoarthritisampkanterior cruciate ligament transectionchondrocytessirtuin 1
spellingShingle X You
LQ Wu
LL Fu
QQ Wu
BR Qi
Nano-encapsulated active protein AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation in experimental osteoarthritis rats via SIRT1-regulated nexilin expression nano-AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation
European Cells & Materials
osteoarthritis
ampk
anterior cruciate ligament transection
chondrocytes
sirtuin 1
title Nano-encapsulated active protein AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation in experimental osteoarthritis rats via SIRT1-regulated nexilin expression nano-AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation
title_full Nano-encapsulated active protein AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation in experimental osteoarthritis rats via SIRT1-regulated nexilin expression nano-AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation
title_fullStr Nano-encapsulated active protein AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation in experimental osteoarthritis rats via SIRT1-regulated nexilin expression nano-AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation
title_full_unstemmed Nano-encapsulated active protein AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation in experimental osteoarthritis rats via SIRT1-regulated nexilin expression nano-AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation
title_short Nano-encapsulated active protein AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation in experimental osteoarthritis rats via SIRT1-regulated nexilin expression nano-AMPK inhibits cartilage matrix degradation
title_sort nano encapsulated active protein ampk inhibits cartilage matrix degradation in experimental osteoarthritis rats via sirt1 regulated nexilin expression nano ampk inhibits cartilage matrix degradation
topic osteoarthritis
ampk
anterior cruciate ligament transection
chondrocytes
sirtuin 1
url https://www.ecmjournal.org/papers/vol050/vol050a07.php
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