Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease that characterized by the degradation of articular cartilage. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of dioscin on IL-1β-stimulated human osteoarthritis chondrocytes.

Methods: The production of PGE2 and NO was measured in this study. MMP1 and MMP3 were detected by ELISA. The expression of LXRα and NF-κB were tested by western blot analysis.

Results: Treatment of dioscin suppressed the production of PGE2 and NO, as well as the expression of COX-2 and iNOS (their key regulatory genes). Dioscin also attenuated the secretion of MMP1 and MMP3. Furthermore, dioscin inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and IκBα induced by IL-1β. The degradation of IκBα induced by IL-1β was also suppressed by dioscin. Dioscin increased the expression of LXRα and pretreatment of GGPP, the LXRα inhibitor, blocked the anti-inflammatory effects of dioscin.

Conclusions: In conclusion, this study indicated that dioscin-mediated anti-inflammatory effect may be involved in the activation of LXRα.

目的：骨关节炎（OA）是最常见的关节疾病，其特征在于关节软骨的退化。在这项研究中，我们旨在研究薯os皂素对IL-1β刺激的人骨关节炎软骨细胞的抗炎活性。

方法：本研究测定了PGE2和NO的产生。通过ELISA检测MMP1和MMP3。通过蛋白质印迹分析检测LXRα和NF-κB的表达。

结果：薯os处理可以抑制PGE2和NO的产生，以及COX-2和iNOS（它们的关键调控基因）的表达。薯os皂素还减弱了MMP1和MMP3的分泌。此外，薯os皂素抑制IL-1β诱导的NF-κBp65和IκBα的磷酸化。薯os皂素还可以抑制IL-1β诱导的IκBα降解。薯os皂素增加了LXRα的表达，而预处理GGPP（LXRα抑制剂）阻止了薯os皂素的抗炎作用。

结论：总之，这项研究表明薯di皂素介导的抗炎作用可能与LXRα的激活有关。