Skip to main content
Log in

Telopeptides of type II collagen upregulate proteinases and damage cartilage but are less effective than highly active fibronectin fragments

  • Published:
Inflammation Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Objective and Design:

We hypothesize that N-telopeptide (NT) and C-telopeptides (CT) of type II collagen can enhance proteinases and cause cartilage damage and have compared damaging activities to an extensively characterized potent fibronectin fragment (Fn-f).

Materials:

NT and CT peptides were synthesized.

Methods:

Interaction of labeled peptides with chondrocytes was studied by fluorescence microscopy. Effects on the metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-3 and MMP-13 and on ADAMTS-5 were analyzed by western blotting. Cartilage damage was assayed by loss of proteoglycan (PG) from cultured explants.

Results:

NT and CT peptides penetrated cartilage, bound to chondrocytes and enhanced proteinase release and cartilage PG depletion. Peptides had detectable activity at 0.3 μM (1 μg/ml) and were comparable at 30 μM (100 μg/ml) to 1 μM Fn-f (29 μg/ml). However, while the Fn-f enhanced IL-1β and TNF-α, the NT and CT peptides did not.

Conclusions:

Collagen peptides containing NT and CT regions were less active on a molar basis than Fn-fs but were still potent damaging agents. Since collagen fragments are found in OA cartilage at μg/ml, they have the potential to play a role in physiologic cartilage damage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. A. Homandberg.

Additional information

Received 7 May 2008; returned for revision 9 June 2008; received from final revision 8 July 2008; accepted by J. A. Battista 31 July 2008

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guo, D., Ding, L. & Homandberg, G.A. Telopeptides of type II collagen upregulate proteinases and damage cartilage but are less effective than highly active fibronectin fragments. Inflamm. Res. 58, 161–169 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-009-8090-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-009-8090-5

Keywords:

Navigation