Increased Chondrocyte Apoptosis in Kashin-Beck Disease and Rats Induced by T-2 Toxin and Selenium Deficiency

Biomed Environ Sci. 2017 May;30(5):351-362. doi: 10.3967/bes2017.046.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate chondrocyte apoptosis and the expression of biochemical markers associated with apoptosis in Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) and in an established T-2 toxin- and selenium (Se) deficiency-induced rat model.

Methods: Cartilages were collected from the hand phalanges of five patients with KBD and five healthy children. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered a selenium-deficient diet for 4 weeks prior to T-2 toxin exposure. The apoptotic chondrocytes were observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. Caspase-3, p53, Bcl-2, and Bax proteins in the cartilages were visualized by immunohistochemistry, their protein levels were determined by Western blotting, and mRNA levels were determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Increased chondrocyte apoptosis was observed in the cartilages of children with KBD. Increased apoptotic and caspase-3-stained cells were observed in the cartilages of rats fed with normal and Se-deficient diets plus T-2 toxin exposure compared to those in rats fed with normal and Se-deficient diets. Caspase-3, p53, and Bax proteins and mRNA levels were higher, whereas Bcl-2 levels were lower in rats fed with normal or Se-deficiency diets supplemented with T-2 toxin than the corresponding levels in rats fed with normal diet.

Conclusion: T-2 toxin under a selenium-deficient nutritional status induces chondrocyte death, which emphasizes the role of chondrocyte apoptosis in cartilage damage and progression of KBD.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Chondrocyte; KBD; Selenium-deficiency; T-2 toxin.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Biomarkers
  • Cartilage, Articular / physiopathology*
  • Child
  • Chondrocytes / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kashin-Beck Disease / etiology
  • Kashin-Beck Disease / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Matrilin Proteins / genetics
  • Matrilin Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Animal
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Selenium / deficiency*
  • T-2 Toxin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Matrilin Proteins
  • Selenium
  • T-2 Toxin