SirT1 is an NAD-dependent histone deacetylase that regulates gene expression, differentiation, development, and organism life span. Here we investigate the function of SirT1 in human chondrocytes derived from osteoarthritic patients. Elevation of SirT1 protein levels or activity in these chondrocytes led to a dramatic increase in cartilage-specific gene expression, whereas a reduction in SirT1 levels or activity significantly lowered cartilage gene expression. SirT1 associated with the cartilage-specific transcription factor Sox9, enhancing transcription from the collagen 2(␣1) promoter in a Sox9-dependent fashion. Consistent with this association, SirT1 was targeted to the collagen 2(␣1) enhancer and promoter, which in turn recruited the coactivators GCN5, PGC1␣, and p300. This led to elevated marks of active chromatin within the promoter; that is, acetylated histone K9/K14 and histone H4K5 as well as trimethylated histone H3K4. Finally, alterations in the NAD salvage pathway enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase led to changes in NAD levels, SirT activity, and cartilage-specific gene expression in human chondrocytes. SirT1, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, and NAD may, therefore, provide a positive function in human cartilage by elevating expression of genes encoding cartilage extracellular matrix.Transcriptional control over cartilage-specific gene expression plays a critical role in maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype (1). Much effort has, therefore, gone into the characterization of chondrocyte-specific transcription factors such as Sox9, -5, and -6 (28). However, it is likely that other factors such as chromatin-modifying enzymes play important roles in controlling cartilage-specific gene expression. Chromatinmodifying enzymes, which include the histone acetyltransferases (HATs) 2 and the histone deacetylases (HDACs) can act as potent transcriptional coactivators and corepressors, respectively, for a variety of genes (2). HATs modify the core histones through acetylation of lysine residues, thereby relaxing chromatin for transcription initiation and elongation (3). HDACs remove the acetyl groups, leading to chromatin condensation and transcriptional repression (4). Additionally, acetylation and deacetylation of transcription factors provide another level of regulation over gene expression (2). In some contexts HDACs are more sensitive to environmental or developmental cues than the HATs and can provide a regulatory role in transcription. In this regard, HDACs have been demonstrated to control both cell proliferation and differentiation through the deacetylation of transcription factors, cytoplasmic proteins, and histones (5, 6). Although HDACs are critically involved in diverse biological processes, their function in chondrocyte biology and cartilage diseases have only recently been explored. Recent work indicates that inhibition of HDACs reduces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase in chondrocytes and fibroblasts (7) and, therefore, inhibits arthritis progression in animal models...

Objective The protein deacetylase SirT1 positively regulates cartilage-specific gene expression, while the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) negatively regulates these same genes. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that SirT1 is adversely affected by TNFα, resulting in altered gene expression. Methods Cartilage-specific gene expression, SirT1 activity, and results of chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis at the α2(I) collagen enhancer site were determined in RNA, protein extracts, and nuclei of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes left untreated or treated with TNFα. Protein extracts from human chondrocytes transfected with epitope-tagged SirT1 that had been left untreated or had been treated with TNFα were analyzed by immunoblotting with SirT1 and epitope-specific antibodies. The 75-kd SirT1-reactive protein present in TNFα-treated extracts was identified by mass spectroscopy, and its amino-terminal cleavage site was identified via Edman sequencing. SirT1 activity was assayed following an in vitro cathepsin B cleavage reaction. Cathepsin B small interfering RNA (siRNA) was transfected into chondrocytes left untreated or treated with TNFα. Results TNFα-treated chondrocytes had impaired SirT1 enzymatic activity and displayed 2 forms of the enzyme: a full-length 110-kd protein and a smaller 75-kd fragment. The 75-kd SirT1 fragment was found to lack the carboxy-terminus. Cathepsin B was identified as the TNFα-responsive protease that cleaves SirT1 at residue 533. Reducing cathepsin B levels via siRNA following TNFα exposure blocked the generation of the 75-kd SirT1 fragment. Conclusion These data indicate that TNFα, a cytokine that mediates joint inflammation in arthritis, induces cathepsin B–mediated cleavage of SirT1, resulting in reduced SirT1 activity. This reduced SirT1 activity correlates with the reduced cartilage-specific gene expression evident in these TNFα-treated cells.

Objective. The protein deacetylase SirT1 inhibits apoptosis in a variety of cell systems by distinct mechanisms, yet its role in chondrocyte death has not been explored. We undertook the present study to assess the role of SirT1 in the survival of osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes in humans.Methods. SirT1, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), and PTP1B mutant expression plasmids as well as SirT1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and PTP1B siRNA were transfected into primary human chondrocytes. Levels of apoptosis were determined using flow cytometry, and activation of components of the insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR)/Akt pathway was assessed using immunoblotting. OA and normal knee cartilage samples were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis.Results. Expression of SirT1 in chondrocytes led to increased chondrocyte survival in either the presence or the absence of tumor necrosis factor ␣/actinomycin D, while a reduction of SirT1 by siRNA led to increased chondrocyte apoptosis. Expression of SirT1 in chondrocytes led to activation of IGFR and the downstream kinases phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phosphoinositedependent protein kinase 1, mTOR, and Akt, which in turn phosphorylated MDM2, inhibited p53, and blocked apoptosis. Activation of IGFR occurs at least in part via SirT1-mediated repression of PTP1B. Expression of PTP1B in chondrocytes increased apoptosis and reduced IGFR phosphorylation, while down-regulation of PTP1B by siRNA significantly decreased apoptosis. Examination of cartilage from normal donors and OA patients revealed that PTP1B levels are elevated in OA cartilage in which SirT1 levels are decreased.Conclusion. For the first time, it has been demonstrated that SirT1 is a mediator of human chondrocyte survival via down-regulation of PTP1B, a potent proapoptotic protein that is elevated in OA cartilage.

Objective SirT1 has been previously implicated in the regulation of human cartilage homeostasis and chondrocyte survival. Exposing human osteoarthritic chondrocytes to TNFα generates a stable and enzymatically inactive 75kDa form of SirT1 (75SirT1) via Cathepsin B-mediated cleavage. Because 75SirT1 is resistant to further degradation, we assumed it has a distinct role in osteoarthritis (OA) pathology, which we sought out to identify in this study. Methods OA and normal human chondrocytes were analyzed for the presence of Cathepsin B and 75SirT1. Confocal imaging of SirT1 monitored its subcellular trafficking following TNFα stimulation. Co-immunofluorescent staining was carried out for Cathepsin B, mitochondrial Cox IV and Lysosome-associated membrane protein I (LAMP-I) together with SirT1. Human chondrocyte were tested for apoptosis via FACS analysis and immunoblotting for caspase 3 and 8. Human chondrocyte mitochondrial extracts were obtained and analyzed for 75SirT1/Cytochrome C association. Results Confocal imaging and immunoblot analyses following TNFα challenge of human chondrocytes, demonstrated that 75SirT1 was exported to the cytoplasm and colocalized with the mitochondrial membrane. Consistently, immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses revealed that 75SirT1 is enriched in mitochondrial extracts and associates with Cytochrome C, following TNFα stimulation. Preventing nuclear export of 75SirT1 or reducing levels of FLSirT1 and 75SirT1 augmented chondrocyte apoptosis in the presence of TNFα Cathepsin B and 75SirT1 were elevated in OA vs. normal chondrocytes. Additional analyses shows that human chondrocytes exposed to OA-derived synovial fluid generate the 75SirT1 fragment. Conclusion These data suggest that 75SirT1 promotes chondrocyte survival following exposure to proinflammatory cytokines.