Glucocorticoid induced autophagy in N1511 chondrocyte cells

Y. Zhao, Y. Zuo, H.-J. Huo, Y.-L. Xiao, X.-J. Yang, D.-Q. Xin

Spine Surgery Department, and Clinical Laboratory; Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China. Huohj2013@163.com;

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• Orthopedics

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether autophagy was involved in chondrocyte cells post Glucocorticoids (GCs) treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: LC3-GFP reporter plasmid transfection and western blotting analysis were conducted to determine the autophagic vesicles and autophagy-associated molecules in the N1511 chondrocyte cells post dexamethasone (Dex) treatment. And the N1511 cell viability was also determined by MTT assay.

RESULTS: We found that autophagy was induced in the N1511 chondrocyte cells post treatment with Dex of 5 µM to 1 mM, and the autophagy-induction by Dex could be inhibited by 3 MA and RU486, a GC antagonist. And the autophagy induced by the high dose of Dex (200 µM or 1 mM) was associated with a reduction of N1511 cell viability.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that GCs could induce autophagy, as might contribute to the viability reduction of chondrocyte cells.

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