OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of nano-Se-chondroitin sulfate on the growth and apoptosis of chondrocytes from patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) exposed to T-2 toxin in vitro.

METHODSSamples of the articular cartilage were obtained from 6 patients with grade II/III KBD diagnosed in line with the National Clinical Diagnostic Criteria of KBD (WS/T 207-2010) for chondrocyte separation and culture in vitro. The separated chondrocytes were treated with synthesized nano-Se-chondroitin sulfate particles and T-2 toxin, alone or in combination, and the cell growth and apoptosis were observed using MTT assay, HE staining and flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe synthesized nano-Se-chondroitin sulfate, with a selenium entrapment ratio of 10.1%, spontaneously formed nanoparticles in distilled water with sizes ranging from 30 to 200 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy suggested a possible covalent bond that bound Nano-Se and chondroitin sulfate. Within the concentration range of 50-200 ng/ml, nano-Se-chondroitin sulfate significantly inhibited T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis of the cultured chondrocytes and reduced the early apoptosis rate to (8.64∓1.57)% (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONNano-Se-chondroitin sulfate can inhibit T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis of cultured chondrocytes from KBD patients in vitro, and serves as a promising candidate therapeutic agent for KBD.