- Daniela Stoppoloni1,
- Laura Politi1,
- Pietro Dalla Vedova2,
- Masa Messano3,
- Aleardo Koverech3,
- Roberto Scandurra1 &
- …
- Anna Scotto d’Abusco1
607Accesses
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative joint disease for which there is no cure. It is treated mainly with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to control the symptoms and some supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate in order to obtain structure-modifying effects. Aim of this study is to investigate the effects ofl-carnitine, a molecule with a role in cellular energy metabolism, on extracellular matrix synthesis in human primary chondrocytes (HPCs). Dose-dependent effect ofl-carnitine on cartilage matrix production, cell proliferation and ATP synthesis was examined by incubating HPCs with various amounts of molecule in monolayer (2D) and in hydromatrix scaffold (3D).l-Carnitine affected extracellular matrix synthesis in 3D in a dose-dependent manner; moreover,l-carnitine was very effective to stimulate cell proliferation and to induce ATP synthesis, mainly in 3D culture condition. In conclusion,l-carnitine enhances cartilage matrix glycosaminoglycan component production and cell proliferation, suggesting that this molecule could be useful in the treatment of pathologies where extracellular matrix is degraded, such as OA. To our knowledge, this is the first study where the effects ofl-carnitine are evaluated in HPCs.
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Authors and Affiliations
Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Roma, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
Daniela Stoppoloni, Laura Politi, Roberto Scandurra & Anna Scotto d’Abusco
Villa Betania Hospital, ASRME, Via N. Piccolomini, 27, 00165, Rome, Italy
Pietro Dalla Vedova
Sigma Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A., Via Pontina, Km 30,400, 00040, Pomezia, Rome, Italy
Masa Messano & Aleardo Koverech
- Daniela Stoppoloni
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- Laura Politi
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- Pietro Dalla Vedova
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- Masa Messano
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- Aleardo Koverech
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- Roberto Scandurra
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- Anna Scotto d’Abusco
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Correspondence toAnna Scotto d’Abusco.
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Daniela Stoppoloni and Laura Politi contributed equally.
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Stoppoloni, D., Politi, L., Dalla Vedova, P.et al.l-Carnitine enhances extracellular matrix synthesis in human primary chondrocytes.Rheumatol Int33, 2399–2403 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-012-2373-9
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