CATALASE PREVENTS ESTRADIOL-INDUCED CHONDROCYTE CYTOTOXICITY

Osteoarthritis is a common geriatric disease and estrogen may play an important role in this disease. Estradiol may cause chondrocyte damage as suggested by in vitro and in vivo data. One of the possible mechan isms of estradiol-induced chondrocyte damage was thought to be related to free radicals. Whether catalase, a known free radical scavenger, c an prevent estradiol-induced chondrocyte damage was tested using a cho ndrocyte culture system. The results of this study suggest that catala se can significantly reduce the estradiol-induced damage to chondrocyt es. Apparently, catalase alters the molecular structure of estradiol a s indicated by the absorption spectrum of estradiol with time. The mod ified estradiol may decrease its toxicity to the chondrocytes. However , the contents of free radicals in the treated chondrocytes have no si gnificant difference from the untreated control cells. Studies to furt her investigate the mechanism or prevention of estradiol-induced chond rocyte damage in osteoarthritis are warranted.