Evaluation of the effects of pregabalin on chondrocyte proliferation and CHAD, HIF-1 alpha, and COL2A1 gene expression

Introduction: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of pregabalin (PGB) on chondrocyte proliferation and collagen type II (COL2A1), hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1 alpha), and chondroadherin (CHAD) gene expression in osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Material and methods: Standard primary chondrocyte cultures were prepared using osteochondral tissues that were surgically obtained from 6 patients with gonarthrosis. Cell morphology was evaluated using an inverted microscope, and cell death and proliferation were determined through MTT analysis, which was confirmed by AO/PI staining and statistically evaluated. The expression levels of CHAD, COL2A1, and HIF-1 alpha genes were assessed using gene-specific TaqMan Gene Expression Assays. Results: MTT analyses showed that PGB administration did not have a negative or toxic effect on cell viability and proliferation in cultured chondrocytes (p < 0.001), but in our morphological evaluation extracellular matrix development was observed to be weaker in cultures treated with PGB. After 24 h of treatment, COL2A1, HIF-1 alpha, and CHAD gene expression decreased in the groups to which PGB was applied compared to gene expression before the experiment (at 0 h); at 48 h, CHAD and HIF-1 alpha expression increased to the same level as the control group, but the expression of COL2A1 continued to decrease. Conclusions: Further studies need to be conducted with more participants to prove that there is a negative correlation between extracellular matrix formation and PGB administration. Our preliminary data show that even at low doses and over short-term administration, PGB may affect chondrocyte cells at the gene-expression level