Requirement of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway for the effect of nicotine on interleukin-1beta-induced chondrocyte apoptosis in a rat model of osteoarthritis

► We investigated the effect of nicotine on IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and the mechanism. ► Nicotine activated the PI3K/Akt/Bcl-2 pathway for blocking IL-1β-induced cell apoptosis. ► Nicotine triggered the PI3K/Akt/p70S6K/S6 pathway for promoting protein synthesis. ► Activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway is required for the effect of nicotine on chondrocyte apoptosis.