Asiaticoside Regulates Toll-Like Receptor 4/Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Signaling Pathway to Relieve Lipopolysccharide-Induced Inflammation and Apoptosis in ATDC5 Cells

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint disease characterized by degeneration and destruction of articular cartilage. The incidence of osteoarthritis has increased steadily over the years leading to more than 50% in people over the age of 65. Due to associated side effects of prevailing therapeutics, better drugs are needed for osteoarthritis management. Asiaticoside is a bioactive component isolated from the medicinal plant Centella asiatica. It has been reported to possess neuroprotective, antiulcer, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and other pharmacological properties. However, the potential of asiaticoside in the management of osteoarthritis remains to be explored. To this end, we examined the effect of asiaticoside on lipopolysaccharides induced inflammatory injury and apoptosis of chondrocytes. The results show that asiaticoside promotes viability and decrease in apoptosis of ATDC5 cells through decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines and the regulation of toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappa b signaling pathway. In summary, our results provide the evidence that asiaticoside could serve as a promising therapeutic drug for osteoarthritis treatment.