The substance P fragment SP-(7-11) increases prostaglandin E2, intracellular Ca2+ and collagenase production in bovine articular chondrocytes

Substance P (SP) is found in increased concentrations in inflamed joints and is believed to play a role in joint pathology. Culture of bovine articular chondrocytes with SP or with the related mammalian tachykinins neurokinin A or B (NKA or NKB) produced no effect on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or collagenase production. However, the C-terminal fragment of SP, SP-(7-11), increased PGE2 and collagenase production at concentrations greater than 1 microM. The N-terminal fragments SP-(1-4) and SP-(1-6) had no effect on PGE2 or collagenase production. In addition, SP-(7-11), but not intact SP, SP-(1-4), SP-(1-6), SP-(8-11) or SP-(9-11), nor the tachykinins NKA and NKB, caused an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration as measured by the Fluorescent Dye Fura-2. The maximal change in intra-cellular calcium induced by 10 microM SP-(7-11) was 140 +/- 30 nM. We postulate that cleavage of SP by neutral endopeptidases which are present in the synovial fluid and which yield SP-(7-11) may be of biological importance in chondrocyte-mediated cartilage pathology.