Effects of UCP4 on the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Chondrocytes: Its Possible Involvement and Regulation in Osteoarthritis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced chondrocytes apoptosis plays a key role in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. Uncoupling protein 4 (UCP4) can protect cells against oxidative stress via reducing ROS production and cell apoptosis. Here, silencing of UCP4 in primary chondrocytes significantly inhibited cell survival, but induced ROS production and cell apoptosis. UCP4 mRNA of cartilage tissues was decreased in osteoarthritis patients, which was negatively correlated with synovial fluid (SF) leptin concentration. Moreover, leptin treatment (5, 10 and 20 ng/ml) of primary cultured chondrocytes significantly decreased mRNA and protein levels of UCP4, but increased ROS production and cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of leptin treatment (20 ng/ml) on chondrocytes was partially reversed by ectopic expression of UCP4. More importantly, intraarticularly injection of UCP4 adenovirus remarkably alleviate OA progression and cell apoptosis in a rat OA model induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). In conclusion, UCP4, whose expression was suppressed by leptin, may be involved in the ROS production and apoptosis of chondrocytes, thus contributing to the OA pathogenesis.