Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of tetrandrine (Tet) on injury of primary human articular chondrocytes induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Methods Human articular chondrocytes were divided into control group, IL-1β group, hypoxia inducible factor(HIF-1α) inhibitor group [2-methoxyestradiol(2-ME2) group], Tet groups containing low, medium and high concentrations. Each group has six replicated samples. MTT assay was used to detect the viability of cells; cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry; the level of inflammatory related factors like tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase 3(MMP-3), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and the activity of antioxidant factors like super oxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxides (GPx) in cells were detected by ELISA; Western blot was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in cells. Results Compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate, level of TNF-α,MMP-3, iNOS,COX-2 and the protein expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in IL-1β group all increased, the cell survival rate and the activity of SOD and GPx significantly decreased (P＜0.05); compared with IL-1β group, the apoptosis rate, the level of TNF-α, MMP-3, iNOS, COX-2 and the protein expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in 2-ME2 group and Tet groups with low, medium, and high concentration significanthy decreased(P＜0.05). The cell survival rate and the activity of SOD and GPx significantly increased(P＜0.05). Conclusions Tetrandrine attenuates IL-1β-induced injury of human articular chondrocytes.

Key words: tetrandrine, osteoarthritis, interleukin-1β, articular chondrocytes, damage