Expression of xylosyltransferase-1 is modulated by fibronectin fragment in human articular chondrocytes

Abstract

Purpose: Xylosyltransferase-1 (XT-1), encoded by xylt1 gene, is an essential anabolic enzyme to catalyze the initial and rate-determining step in glycosaminoglycan chain synthesis. The effect of fibronectin fragments (FN-fs), generated by proteolytic cleavage of FN and known as damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules, on cartilage metabolism was poorly characterized. In this study we examined 29-kDa amino-terminal fibronectin fragment (29-kDa FN-f)-mediated XT-1 expression mechanism and its signaling pathway, determining the role of 29-kDa FN-f in cartilage matrix synthesis. Methods: Human articular chondrocytes were enzymatically isolated from articular cartilage and cultured in monolayer. In 29-kDa FN-f-stimulated chondrocytes, the relative levels of mRNA and protein for XT-1 were analyzed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively. In order to investigate the effects of 29-kDa FN-f on XT-1, human chondrocytes were transfected with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting TLR-2. Results: The level of aggrecan and XT-1 in human osteoarthritis cartilage was significantly decreased compared to normal cartilage. XT-1 expression in cultured primary articluar chondrocytes showed a periodic oscillation in both mRNA and protein level. 29-kDa FN-f significantly suppressed the mRNA and protein levels of XT-1 at 14 h and 24 h, respectively. Inhibition of mitogen activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway restored 29-kDa FN-f-inhibited XT-1 expression. Knockdown of toll like receptor-2 (TLR-2) using small interference RNA revealed that the decrease of XT-1 expression by 29-kDa FN-f is mediated by TLR-2 signaling pathway. In addition, Sp3, a repressor of XT-1 promoter, was up-regulated by 29-kDa FN-f. Knockdown and overexpression experiments revealed that XT-1 expression was modulated by 29-kDa FN-f-stimulated Sp3 in primary articular chondrocytes. XT- expression was promoted by AP-1 inhibitor and suppressed by AP-1 activator. Both c-jun and c-fos were activated by 29-kDa FN-f. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that 29-kDa FN-f plays a detrimental role in the regulation of cartilage extracellular matrix formation including XT-1 expression.