Hydrogen sulphide decreases IL‐1β‐induced activation of fibroblast‐like synoviocytes from patients with osteoarthritis

Balneotherapy employing sulphurous thermal water is still applied to patients suffering from diseases of musculoskeletal system like osteoarthritis (OA) but evidence for its clinical effectiveness is scarce. Since the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) seems to affect cells involved in degenerative joint diseases, it was the objective of this study to investigate the effects of exogenous H₂S on fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS), which are key players in OA pathogenesis being capable of producing pro‐inflammatory cytokines and matrix degrading enzymes. To address this issue primary FLS derived from OA patients were stimulated with IL‐1β and treated with the H₂S donor NaHS. Cellular responses were analysed by ELISA, quantitative real‐time PCR, phospho‐MAPkinase array and Western blotting. Treatment‐induced effects on cellular structure and synovial architecture were investigated in three‐dimensional extracellular matrix micromasses. NaHS treatment reduced both spontaneous and IL‐1β‐induced secretion of IL‐6, IL‐8 and RANTES in different experimental settings. In addition, NaHS treatment reduced the expression of matrix metallo‐proteinases MMP‐2 and MMP‐14. IL‐1β induced the phosphorylation of several MAPkinases. NaHS treatment partially reduced IL‐1β‐induced activation of several MAPK whereas it increased phosphorylation of pro‐survival factor Akt1/2. When cultured in spherical micromasses, FLS intentionally established a synovial lining layer‐like structure; stimulation with IL‐1β altered the architecture of micromasses leading to hyperplasia of the lining layer which was completely inhibited by concomitant exposure to NaHS. These data suggest that H₂S partially antagonizes IL‐1β stimulation via selective manipulation of the MAPkinase and the PI3K/Akt pathways which may encourage development of novel drugs for treatment of OA.