transforming growth factor-β1 preserves bovine nasal cartilage against degradation induced by interleukin-1α in explant culture

Background and aims: chondrocytes and their differentiation play a central role in joint diseases. effect of the transforming growth factor (tgf)-β1 on chondrocyte characteristics and differentiation is not clearly understood. this study was undertaken to investigate the effects of tgf-β1 on tissue characteristics and morphology of chondrocytes against degradation induced by interleukin (il)-lα in bovine nasal cartilage (bnc) explant culture. materials and methods: bnc explants were cultured in dmem and samples were divided into four groups. in group a (control); samples were only cultured in dmem and group b; was treated with il-1α (10 ng/ml), group c; treated with tgf-β1 (10 ng/ml) and group d; treated with il-1α (10 ng/ml) + tgf-β1 (10 ng/ml) for 14 days. at days 3, 7 and 14 the media were collected and replaced with fresh media. then, samples were harvested on days 3, 7 and 14 and chondrocyte morphology was assessed by invert microscopy. we used masson's trichrome stain to visualize collagen distribution and synthesis, and safranin o and alician blue to highlight the proteoglycan content. results: in the presence of il-lα, most of the chondrocytes were transformed into fibroblast-like morphology with pyknotic nuclei at day 14 and proteoglycan and collagen in extracellular matrix (ecm) were destructed at this time. in the presence of tgf-β1, chondrocytes preserved their ordinary normal features. also, tgf-β1 inhibited collagen and proteoglycan destruction and cartilage ecm showed normal characteristics. conclusions: il-1α induced significant morphological changes in chondrocytes and increased the destruction of ecm. tgf-β1 could strongly preserves cartilage from il-1α degradation effects.