Dual Role of SIRT1 in Autophagy and Lipid Metabolism Regulation in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes

Background and Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common and highly prevalent types of arthritis, also considered a multiphenotypic disease with a strong metabolic component. Ageing is the primary risk factor for OA, while the age-related decline in autophagic activity affects cell function and chondrocyte homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in autophagy dysregulation and lipid metabolism in human OA chondrocytes. Materials and Methods: OA chondrocytes were treated with Resveratrol, Hydroxycloroquine (HCQ) or 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) and HCQ or 3-MA followed by siRNA against SIRT1 (siSIRT1). Then, SIRT1, AcNF-κBp65, LOX-1 and autophagy-related proteins ATG5, ATG13, PI3K class III, Beclin-1, LC3 and ULK protein levels were evaluated using Western blot. Normal articular chondrocytes were treated under serum starvation and/or siSIRT1, and the protein expression levels of the above autophagy-related proteins were evaluated. The staining patterns of LC3/p62 and LOX-1 were analyzed microscopically by immunofluorescence. SIRT1/LC3 complex formation was analyzed by immunoprecipitation. Results: SIRT1 and LOX-1 protein expression were negatively correlated in OA chondrocytes. SIRT1 regulated LOX-1 expression via NF-κΒ deacetylation, while treatment with Resveratrol enhanced SIRT1 enzymatic activity, resulting in LOX-1 downregulation and autophagy induction. In OA chondrocytes, SIRT1 was recognized as an autophagy substrate, formed a complex with LC3 and was consequently subjected to cytoplasmic autophagosome-lysosome degradation. Moreover, siSIRT1-treated normal chondrocytes showed decreased autophagic activity, while double-treated (siSIRT1 and serum starvation) cells showed no induction of autophagy. Conclusions: Our results suggest that SIRT1 regulates lipid homeostasis through LOX-1 expression regulation. Additionally, we indicate that the necessity of SIRT1 for autophagy induction in normal chondrocytes, together with its selective autophagic degradation in OA chondrocytes, could contribute to autophagy dysregulation in OA. We, therefore, suggest a novel regulatory scheme that functionally connects lipid metabolism and autophagy in late-stage OA.