Abstract

Background: Bisphosphonates (BP) increase bone mass in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and are effective in the prevention and treatment of steroid-induced osteoporosis. However, little is known about their direct effects on chondrocytes.

Objectives: To study the influence of BP on articular chondrocytes in vitro and to investigate whether BP can prevent steroid-induced apoptosis of articular chondrocytes.

Methods: Bovine articular chondrocytes were cultured and incubated with different concentrations of clodronate, pamidronate, risedronate, or dexamethasone. In the second part of the study, BP were added to the chondrocyte cultures one hour before co-incubation with dexamethasone. Viability and proliferation were evaluated using propidium iodide staining and tritium labelled thymidine incorporation. Apoptosis was measured with annexin V staining or the TUNEL method.

Results: Only high concentrations (>10⁻⁶ mol/l) of clodronate, pamidronate, and risedronate induced a decrease in the viability and proliferation of chondrocytes. None of the BP at concentrations ranging from 10⁻¹² to 10⁻³ mol/l induced apoptosis. Growth retardation and apoptosis induced by dexamethasone (10⁻⁷ mol/l) was prevented by addition of pamidronate (10⁻⁶ mol/l) or risedronate (10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁶ mol/l).

Conclusion: Bisphosphonates in therapeutic concentrations are safe for articular chondrocytes in vitro. Moreover, pamidronate and risedronate prevent dexamethasone-induced growth retardation and apoptosis of chondrocytes. These findings add evidence for a chondroprotective effect of nitrogen-containing BP, especially in patients treated with corticosteroids.