Activated intestinal microbiome-associated tryptophan metabolism upregulates aryl hydrocarbon receptor to promote osteoarthritis in a rat model

Objective: To evaluate the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) and its association with intestinal microbiome-related tryptophan metabolism.Methods: Cartilage was isolated from OA patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty and analyzed for expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and cytochrome P450 of family 1, subfamily A, and polypeptide 1 (CyP1A1). To gain mechanistic insights, OA model was induced in Sprague Dawley rats after antibiotic pretreatment combined with a tryptophan-rich diet (or not). The severity of OA was assessed eight weeks after surgery ac-cording to the Osteoarthritis Research Society International grading system. Expression of AhR, CyP1A1 as well as markers of bone and cartilage metabolism, inflammation, and intestinal microbiome-related tryptophan metabolism was assessed.Results: Severity of OA in cartilage from patients positively correlated with expression of AhR and CyP1A1 in chondrocytes. In the rat model of OA, antibiotic pretreatment led to lower expression of AhR and CyP1A1 and lower serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Conversely, antibiotics upregulated Col2A1 and SOX9 in carti-lage, which mitigated the cartilage damage and synovitis, reduced the relative abundance of Lactobacillus. Additional tryptophan supplementation activated intestinal microbiome-related tryptophan metabolism, antagonizing the effects of antibiotics, exacerbating OA synovitis.Conclusion: Our study established an underlying intestinal microbiome associated tryptophan metabolism-OA connection which sets a new target for exploring OA pathogenesis. The alteration of tryptophan metabolism might prompt the activation and synthesis of AhR, accelerating the development of OA.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) and its association with intestinal microbiome-related tryptophan metabolism. The severity of OA positively correlated with the expression of AhR and CyP1A1 in cartilage from patients. In a rat model of OA, antibiotic pretreatment led to lower expression of AhR and CyP1A1 and lower serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Tryptophan supplementation activated intestinal microbiome-related tryptophan metabolism, exacerbating OA synovitis.