P-15 promotes chondrocyte proliferation in osteoarthritis by regulating SFPQ to target the Akt-RUNX2 axis

Abstract

Background The disruption of chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation is a critical event during the process of joint injury in osteoarthritis (OA). P-15 peptides could bind to integrin receptors on various precursor cells, promote cell adhesion, release growth factors, and promote the differentiation of osteoblast precursor cells. However, the role it plays in OA, particularly in chondrocyte proliferation, is not fully understood. Methods The activity of SFPQ and RUNX2 in the bone tissue of patients with osteoarthritis was analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) inducer was performed to establish an in vitro model of OA. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay. The expressions of COL2a1, ACAN, COMP, SOX9, and BMP2 related to cartilage differentiation were detected using qRT-PCR. In addition, the expression levels of SFPQ, AKT, p-AKT, and RUNX2 were detected using Western blotting. Results The results showed that the expression of SFPQ was significantly decreased and the expression of RUNX2 was significantly increased in osteoarthritis cartilage tissue. P-15 peptide reversed IL-1β-induced cell proliferation obstruction and alleviated chondrocyte damage. Furthermore, P-15 polypeptide increased the expression levels of cartilage differentiation genes COL2a1, ACAN, and BMP2, while decreasing the expression of COMP and SOX9 in an inverse dose-dependent manner. Then specific interfering RNA proved that P-15 maintains chondrocyte stability and is associated with the SFPQ gene. Finally, we confirmed that P-15 inhibited the Akt-SUNX2 pathway, which is regulated in the expression of SFPQ. Conclusions P-15 can mitigate chondrocyte damage and osteoarthritis progression by inhibiting cell death and modulating SFPQ-Akt-SUNX2 pathway, offering an opportunity to develop new strategies for the treatment of osteoarthritis.