Suramin inhibits osteoarthritic cartilage degradation by increasing extracellular levels of chondroprotective tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease for which no disease-modifying drugs are currently available. Attempts to treat the disease with small molecule inhibitors of the metalloproteinases that degrade the cartilage matrix have been hampered by a lack of specificity. We aimed to inhibit cartilage degradation by augmenting levels of the endogenous metalloproteinase inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-3, through blocking its interaction with the endocytic scavenger receptor, low-density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 1 (LRP1). We discovered that suramin (C51H40N6O23S6) bound to TIMP-3 with a KD value of 1.9 6 0.2 nM and inhibited its endocytosis via LRP1, thus increasing extracellular levels of TIMP-3 and inhibiting cartilage degradation by the TIMP-3 target enzyme, adamalysin-like metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5. NF279 (8',89-[carbonylbis(imino-4,1-phenylenecarbony-limino-4,1-phenylenecarbonylimino)]bis-1,3,5-naphthalenetri-sulfonic acid hexasodium salt), a structural analog of suramin, has an increased affinity for TIMP-3 and increased ability to inhibit TIMP-3 endocytosis and protect cartilage. Suramin is thus a promising scaffold for the development of novel therapeutics to increase TIMP-3 levels and inhibit cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis.