Epigenetic regulation of interleukin-8, an inflammatory chemokine, in osteoarthritis

ObjectiveTo determine whether altered IL8 methylation status is associated with increased expression of IL8 in human osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes.MethodsIL8 expression levels and the percentage CpG methylation in human chondrocytes were quantified by qRT-PCR and pyrosequencing in OA patients and in non-OA osteoporotic controls. The effect of CpG methylation on IL8 promoter activity was determined using a CpG-free vector; co-transfections...