Resveratrol, a sirtuin 1 activator, increases IL-6 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with knee osteoarthritis

Background: Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) is a nuclear enzyme from the class III histone deacetylases that modulates gene expression and is involved in bone and cartilage remodeling. The goal of our study was to evaluate Sirt1 activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with osteoarthritis in comparison with control patients, and to determine the relationship between Sirt1 activity and production of TNF alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after ex vivo treatment with resveratrol, a Sirt1 activator. Results: A prospective study was performed to compare the activity of Sirt1 in patients with primary osteoarthritis of the knee (American College of Rheumatology criteria) with its activity in controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood, and Sirt1 activity evaluated from cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments using a fluorometric assay. Culture supernatant levels of TNF alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 were quantified before and after resveratrol ex vivo treatment. Nineteen patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (age 64 +/- 9 years) and 18 controls (age 54 +/- 13 years) were included. No differences were found in cytoplasmic or nuclear Sirt1 activity between patients and controls. After resveratrol treatment, no changes in TNF alpha or IL-8 levels were found, but a significant dose-dependent increase in IL-6 levels was demonstrated in patients with osteoarthritis, but not controls. Sirt1 activity did not correlate with clinical activity (Lequesne's index) or inflammation (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein). Conclusion: Sirt1 activity (cytoplasmic and nuclear) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not differ between patients with osteoarthritis and controls. Ex vivo treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with resveratrol was associated with a dose-dependent increase in IL-6 levels only in patients with osteoarthritis.