Gla-rich protein is involved in the cross-talk between calcification and inflammation in osteoarthritis

Cavaco S, Viegas CS, Rafael MS, et al. · Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences

Matrix Gla protein is not the only vitamin-K-dependent protein in cartilage: gamma-carboxylated Gla-rich protein inhibited matrix calcification in osteoarthritic joint cells, while both forms damped inflammatory cytokines and mediators regardless of carboxylation — meaning part of its anti-inflammatory action does not depend on vitamin K at all.

Population

Human osteoarthritic synoviocyte and chondrocyte culture system

Intervention

Gla-rich protein, a second vitamin-K-dependent mineralisation inhibitor, in carboxylated and uncarboxylated forms

Comparator

Untreated and IL-1beta-stimulated cells

Limitations

A human cell system, not an animal or human trial; the calcification-inhibiting effect is vitamin-K-dependent but the anti-inflammatory effect is not, which complicates rather than supports a simple supplementation argument.