Animal models of osteoarthritis: characterization of a model induced by Mono-Iodo-Acetate injected in rabbits

Knee osteoarthritis: A review of animal models and intervention of traditional Chinese medicine

BACKGROUND

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) characterized by degeneration of knee cartilage and subsequent bone hyperplasia is a prevalent joint condition primarily affecting aging adults. The pathophysiology of KOA remains poorly understood, as it involves complex mechanisms that result in the same outcome. Consequently, researchers are interested in studying KOA and require appropriate animal models for basic research. Chinese herbal compounds, which consist of multiple herbs with diverse pharmacological properties, possess characteristics such as multicomponent, multipathway, and multitarget effects. The potential benefits in the treatment of KOA continue to attract attention.

PURPOSE

This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages, limitations, and specific considerations in selecting different species and methods for KOA animal models. This will help researchers make informed decisions when choosing an animal model.

METHODS

Online academic databases (e.g., PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and CNKI) were searched using the search terms "knee osteoarthritis," "animal models," "traditional Chinese medicine," and their combinations, primarily including KOA studies published from 2010 to 2023.

RESULTS

Based on literature retrieval, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the methods of establishing KOA animal models; introduces the current status of advantages and disadvantages of various animal models, including mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, and sheep/goats; and presents the current status of methods used to establish KOA animal models.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a review of the animal models used in recent KOA research, discusses the common modeling methods, and emphasizes the role of traditional Chinese medicine compounds in the treatment of KOA.

Pharmacokinetic Assessment of Staphylococcal Phage K Following Parenteral and Intra-articular Administration in Rabbits

The therapeutic value of phage as an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections is being considered in the wake of mounting antibiotic resistance. In this study, the pharmacokinetic properties of Staphylococcus aureus phage K following intravenous and intra-articular administration were investigated in a rabbit model. Using a traditional plaque assay and a novel quantitative PCR assay to measure phage levels in specimens over time, it was found that intra-articularly administered phage enters the systemic circulation; that phage may be detected in synovial fluid up to 24 h following the intra-articular, but not intravenous, administration; and that qPCR-based enumeration is generally more sensitive than plaque enumeration, with fair to moderate correlation between the two methods. Findings presented should inform the design of phage therapy experiments and therapeutic drug monitoring in preclinical and human phage studies.

Effect of Etoricoxib on miR-214 and inflammatory reaction in knee osteoarthritis patients

PURPOSE

To explore the effect of Etoricoxib on serum miR-214 expression level and inflammatory reaction in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS

96 patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted to our hospital (January 2019 to January 2020) were selected. 48 patients in the control group received Celecoxib and 48 patients in the observation group received Etoricoxib. The treatment effect, knee function, inflammatory factor level, immune function, and serum miR-214 expression level of the two groups were compared. 6 months after treatment, the incidence of complications (deformities, deep infections and severe pain) between the two groups was compared.

RESULTS

(1) The observation group had a higher total effective rate (93.75%) in comparison to the control group (72.92%) (P<0.05). (2) Before treatment, the serum miR-214 expression level of the two groups was basically the same (P>0.05). After treatment, the serum miR-214 expression level of the two groups decreased significantly, with a more marked decrease in the observation group (P<0.05). (3) Before treatment, the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and hs-CRP were not statistically different in the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, IL-1β, TNF-α, and hs-CRP in both groups decreased, and the decrease in the observation group was significantly greater (P<0.05). (4) Before treatment, the levels of CD3⁺CD8⁺ and CD3⁺ were basically the same in both groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the levels of CD3⁺CD8⁺ and CD3⁺ in the two groups increased, and for the observation group, were significantly greater P<0.05. (5) The Lysholm score was higher in the observation group than it was in the control group (inter-group effect: F = 58.070, P<0.001), and the Lysholm score of both groups tended to increase with time (time effect: F = 145.900, P<0.001). Grouping and time showed an interactive effect (interactive effect: F = 8.646, P<0.001). 6 months after treatment, observation group showed a lower complication rate when compared to the control groupt (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Etoricoxib has a strong effect on patients with knee osteoarthritis. It can significantly reduce the expression of serum miR-214 and the level of inflammatory factors, and is worthy of clinical application.

Regenerative Engineering Animal Models for Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common synovial joint disorder worldwide, with a growing incidence due to increasing rates of obesity and an aging population. A significant amount of research is currently being conducted to further our understanding of the pathophysiology of knee osteoarthritis to design less invasive and more effective treatment options once conservative management has failed. Regenerative engineering techniques have shown promising preclinical results in treating OA due to their innovative approaches and have emerged as a popular area of study. To investigate these therapeutics, animal models of OA have been used in preclinical trials. There are various mechanisms by which OA can be induced in the knee/stifle of animals that are classified by the etiology of the OA that they are designed to recapitulate. Thus, it is essential to utilize the correct animal model in studies that are investigating regenerative engineering techniques for proper translation of efficacy into clinical trials. This review discusses the various animal models of OA that may be used in preclinical regenerative engineering trials and the corresponding classification system.

Lay Summary

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common synovial joint disease worldwide, with high rates of occurrence due to an increase in obesity and an aging population. A great deal of research is currently underway to further our understanding of the causes of osteoarthritis, to design more effective treatments. The emergence of regenerative engineering has provided physicians and investigators with unique opportunities to join ideas in tackling human diseases such as OA. Once the concept is proven to work, the initial procedure for the evaluation of a treatment solution begins with an animal model. Thus, it is essential to utilize a suitable animal model that reflects the particular ailment in regenerative engineering studies for proper translation to human patients as each model has associated advantages and disadvantages. There are various ways by which OA can occur in the knee joint, which are classified according to the particular cause of the OA. This review discusses the various animal models of OA that may be used in preclinical regenerative engineering investigations and the corresponding classification system.

Clinical-grade human dental pulp stem cells suppressed the activation of osteoarthritic macrophages and attenuated cartilaginous damage in a rabbit osteoarthritis model

BACKGROUND

Although increasing evidence has demonstrated that human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) are efficacious for the clinical treatment of skeletal disorders, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative disorders in joints and is characterized by gradual and irreversible cartilaginous tissue damage. Notably, immune factors were newly identified to be closely related to OA development. In this study, we explored the modulatory effects of clinical-grade hDPSCs on osteoarthritic macrophages and their protective effects on cartilaginous tissues in OA joints.

METHODS

The cell morphology, immunophenotype, and inflammatory factor expression of osteoarthritic macrophages were explored by phase contrast microscope, transmission electron microscopy, immunostaining, flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Additionally, the factors and signaling pathways that suppressed macrophage activation by hDPSCs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western-blotting. Furthermore, hDPSCs were administered to a rabbit knee OA model via intra-articular injection. Macrophage activation in vivo and cartilaginous tissue damage were also evaluated by pathological analysis.

RESULTS

We found that hDPSCs markedly inhibited osteoarthritic macrophage activation in vitro. The cell morphology, immunophenotype, and inflammatory factor expression of osteoarthritic macrophages changed into less inflammatory status in the presence of hDPSCs. Mechanistically, we observed that hDPSC-derived hepatocyte growth factor and transforming growth factor β1 mediated the suppressive effects on osteoarthritic macrophages. Moreover, phosphorylation of MAPK pathway proteins contributed to osteoarthritic macrophage activation, and hDPSCs suppressed their activation by partially inactivating those pathways. Most importantly, injected hDPSCs inhibited macrophage activation in osteochondral tissues in a rabbit knee OA model in vivo. Further histological analysis showed that hDPSCs alleviated cartilaginous damage to knee joints.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our findings reveal a novel function for hDPSCs in suppressing osteoarthritic macrophages and suggest that macrophages are efficient cellular targets of hDPSCs for alleviation of cartilaginous damage in OA. hDPSCs treat OA via an osteoarthritic macrophages-dependent mechanisms. hDPSCs suppress the activation of osteoarthritic macrophages in vitro and in vivo and alleviate cartilaginous lesions in OA models.