Reduction of tumor necrosis factor induced nuclear factor-κB nuclear translocation and DNA binding by dexamethasone in human osteoarthritic synovial tissue explants

Objective. The antiinflammatory effects of glucocorticoids are mediated by several mechanisms, including inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) nuclear translocation and DNA binding. This mechanism is not evident in some cell types, including endothelial cells and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). We determined the effect of glucocorticoids and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on nuclear localization and DNA binding of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in osteoarthritic (OA) synovial tissue. Methods. Explants of synovial tissue from patients undergoing joint replacement surgery for arthritis were placed in culture and treated with dexamethasone 10(-6) M for 18 h and again at 30 min prior to stimulation with TNF for a further 30 min. NF-kappaB and AP-1 DNA binding activities were determined by electrophoretic mobility shift analysis of nuclear extracts prepared from 6 whole tissue explants, Nuclear localization of NF-kappaB was determined by quantitative immunohistochemistry for Rel-A(p65) in thin sections of 5 synovial tissue explants. Results. TNF induced NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and DNA binding in all OA synovial tissue explants, although there were no consistent effects on AP-1 DNA binding. Dexamethasone reduced TNF stimulated nuclear translocation of RelA(p65) in all 5 OA synovial explants analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Dexamethasone partially decreased NF-kappaB DNA binding in 5 of 6 TNF stimulated explants and 4 of 6 unstimulated explants. In cultured rheumatoid arthritis and OA fibroblast-like synoviocytes and Mono Mac 6 cells the effects of dexamethasone on NF-kappaB DNA binding were not evident. Conclusion. Dexamethasone partially inhibits TNF induced NF-kappaB DNA binding in human synovial tissue. It is feasible to use explants of intact fresh human synovium as a substrate for the action of antirheumatic drugs targeting a transcription factor.