Intraarticular Matrix Metalloproteinases and Aggrecan Degradation Are Elevated After Articular Fracture

The Relationship Between Intra-articular Fracture Energy and a Patient's Inflammatory Response

OBJECTIVES

Prior studies have demonstrated elevated inflammatory cytokine concentrations in the synovial fluid of articular fracture patients postinjury. Similarly, CT-based fracture energy measurements have been correlated with posttraumatic osteoarthritis risk after pilon fracture. The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between synovial fluid cytokine levels, fracture energy, and overall trauma to the body in articular fracture patients.

METHODS

Acute tibial plateau, tibial plafond, and rotational ankle fracture patients were prospectively enrolled from December 2011 through January 1, 2019. Synovial fluid concentrations of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, matrix metallopeptidase-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 were quantified. Patient CT scans were used to calculate fracture energy. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) was used to relate cytokine levels to whole-body injury severity. Spearman rho correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationship between injury severity metrics and synovial fluid cytokine, chemokine, and matrix metallopeptidase concentrations.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven patients were enrolled with 42 had a tibial plateau fractures (OTA/AO 41B1-2, 41B2-14, 41B3-3, 41C1-3, 41C2-4, 41C3-16), 24 patients had a tibial plafond fracture (OTA/AO 43B1-2, 43B2-4, 43B3-5, 43C1-2, 43C2-3, 43C3-8), and 21 had a rotational ankle fracture (OTA/AO 44B1-3, 44B2-3, 44B3-6, 44C1-4, 44C2-5). Fracture energy significantly differed between fracture patterns, with ankle fractures involving substantially less fracture energy (median = 2.92 J) than plafond (10.85 J, P < 0.001) and plateau fractures (13.05 J, P < 0.001). After adjustment for multiple comparisons, MMP-3 was significantly correlated with transformed fracture energy (r = 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-0.58, P < 0.001), while IL-1β was significantly correlated with the Injury Severity Score (Spearman ρ = 0.31, 95% CI, 0.08-0.49, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Synovial fluid MMP-3 concentration was significantly correlated with CT-quantified fracture energy in intra-articular fracture patients. Given that in clinical practice fracture energy tends to correlate with posttraumatic osteoarthritis risk, MMP-3 may warrant further investigation for its role in posttraumatic osteoarthritis development after articular fracture.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis: epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture, approaches to pharmacotherapy

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is an inflammatory and degenerative disease that occurs as a result of the joint structures injury. It is a common pathology, accounting for approximately 12% of all cases of osteoarthritis (OA). PTOA often occurs in people of young productive age, progresses rapidly, causing chronic pain and increasing dysfunction. Individuals undergoing joint replacement for PTOA are, on average, 10 years younger than those with primary OA. The time interval from the moment of injury to the onset of typical PTOA radiological signs varies widely – from 1 year to 15–20 years.The main injuries that cause PTOA are intra-articular fractures, anterior cruciate ligament injuries, meniscus rupture and dislocation of the patella of the knee joint, joint dislocations with damage to the ligamentous apparatus of the ankle and shoulder joints.The pathogenesis of PTOA is determined by chronic inflammation accompanied by macrophage activation, hyperproduction of cytokines, primarily interleukin (IL) 1â, chemokines and growth factors, progressive destruction of joint tissue and degenerative changes (fibrosis, neoangiogenesis, osteophytosis).Pathogenetic treatment of PTOA, which would stop the progression of the disease, has not been developed. The possibility of using inhibitors of IL1â, IL6, inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor á, glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acid, autologous cell based therapy is under study. The control of pain and inflammation in PTOA requires the prescription of traditional drugs that are widely used in the practice of managing patients with primary OA. In particular, the use of symptomatic delayed-acting agents, such as the injectable form of chondroitin sulfate, seems to be appropriate.

Metalloproteases in Pain Generation and Persistence: A Possible Target?

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large family of zinc-dependent proteolytic enzymes associated with extracellular matrix protein turnover and tissue degradation. They participate to many different physiological reactions but are also hyperactivated in several diseases. Various literature studies have documented that MMPs play a role in the modulation of neuropathic and nociceptive pain. The heterogeneity of clinical and pre-clinical data is an important issue in this experimental context. Despite the presence of a good number of studies on MMP inhibitors, these drugs showed scarce efficacy and relevant side effects. In the present manuscript, we reviewed studies in the literature that define a possible role of MMPs in pain and the effects of their modulation.

Knockdown of Circ_0037658 Alleviates IL-1β-Induced Osteoarthritis Progression by Serving as a Sponge of miR-665 to Regulate ADAMTS5

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic musculoskeletal degeneration disease which brings great pain to patients and a tremendous burden on the world’s medical resources. Previous reports have indicated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of OA. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and mechanism of circ_0037658 in the OA cell model.

Methods: The content of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell proliferation ability and apoptosis were detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EDU), and flow cytometry assays. Western blot assay was used to measure the protein levels of Bcl-2-related X protein (Bax), cleaved-caspase-3, MMP13, Aggrecan, and ADAMTS5. The expression of circ_0037658, microRNA-665 (miR-665), and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) 5 was detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were manipulated to analyze the relationships of circ_0037658, miR-665, and ADAMTS5.

Results: Human chondrocytes (CHON-001 cells) were treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) to establish an OA cell model. Circ_0037658 and ADAMTS5 levels were increased, and miR-665 was decreased in OA cartilage samples and IL-1β-treated chondrocyte cells. Moreover, circ_0037658 silencing promoted proliferation and impaired inflammation, apoptosis, and ECM degradation in IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells. Mechanically, circ_0037658 acted as a sponge for miR-665 to regulate ADAMTS5 expression.

Conclusion: Circ_0037658 knockdown relieved IL-1β-triggered chondrocyte injury via regulating the miR-665/ADAMTS5 axis, promising an underlying therapeutic strategy for OA.

Intra-articular MMP-1 in the spinal facet joint induces sustained pain and neuronal dysregulation in the DRG and spinal cord, and alters ligament kinematics under tensile loading

Chronic joint pain is a major healthcare challenge with a staggering socioeconomic burden. Pain from synovial joints is mediated by the innervated collagenous capsular ligament that surrounds the joint and encodes nociceptive signals. The interstitial collagenase MMP-1 is elevated in painful joint pathologies and has many roles in collagen regulation and signal transduction. Yet, the role of MMP-1 in mediating nociception in painful joints remains poorly understood. The goal of this study was to determine whether exogenous intra-articular MMP-1 induces pain in the spinal facet joint and to investigate effects of MMP-1 on mediating the capsular ligament’s collagen network, biomechanical response, and neuronal regulation. Intra-articular MMP-1 was administered into the cervical C6/C7 facet joints of rats. Mechanical hyperalgesia quantified behavioral sensitivity before, and for 28 days after, injection. On day 28, joint tissue structure was assessed using histology. Multiscale ligament kinematics were defined under tensile loading along with microstructural changes in the collagen network. The amount of degraded collagen in ligaments was quantified and substance P expression assayed in neural tissue since it is a regulatory of nociceptive signaling. Intra-articular MMP-1 induces behavioral sensitivity that is sustained for 28 days (p < 0.01), absent any significant effects on the structure of joint tissues. Yet, there are changes in the ligament’s biomechanical and microstructural behavior under load. Ligaments from joints injected with MMP-1 exhibit greater displacement at yield (p = 0.04) and a step-like increase in the number of anomalous reorganization events of the collagen fibers during loading (p ≤ 0.02). Collagen hybridizing peptide, a metric of damaged collagen, is positively correlated with the spread of collagen fibers in the unloaded state after MMP-1 (p = 0.01) and that correlation is maintained throughout the sub-failure regime (p ≤ 0.03). MMP-1 injection increases substance P expression in dorsal root ganglia (p < 0.01) and spinal cord (p < 0.01) neurons. These findings suggest that MMP-1 is a likely mediator of neuronal signaling in joint pain and that MMP-1 presence in the joint space may predispose the capsular ligament to altered responses to loading. MMP-1-mediated pathways may be relevant targets for treating degenerative joint pain in cases with subtle or no evidence of structural degeneration.

Combination of Lidocaine and IL-1Ra Is Effective at Reducing Degradation of Porcine Cartilage Explants

BACKGROUND

Posttraumatic inflammation after joint injury, ranging from sprains to articular fracture, contributes to the development of arthritis, and the administration of interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a potential intervention to mitigate this response. Although IL-1Ra mitigates cartilage degenerative changes induced by IL-1, lidocaine is used for local pain management in acute joint injury. Intra-articular delivery of both drugs in combination would be a novel and possibly disease-modifying treatment. However, it is not known whether the interaction with lidocaine at clinical concentrations (1%) would alter the efficacy of IL-1Ra to protect cartilage from the catabolic effects of IL-1.

HYPOTHESIS

Treatment of articular cartilage with IL-1Ra in combination with a clinically relevant concentration of lidocaine (1%) will inhibit the catabolic effects of IL-1α in a manner similar to treatment with IL-1Ra alone.

STUDY DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

METHODS

Fresh porcine cartilage explants were harvested, challenged with IL-1α, and incubated for 72 hours with IL-1Ra or a combination of IL-1Ra and lidocaine. The primary outcome was total sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) release. Additional experiments assessed the effect of storage temperature and premixing of IL-1Ra and lidocaine on sGAG release. All explants were histologically assessed for cartilage degradation using a modified Mankin grading scale.

RESULTS

The combination of IL-1Ra and lidocaine, premixed at various time points and stored at room temperature or 4°C, was as effective as IL-1Ra alone at inhibiting IL-1α-mediated sGAG release. Mankin histopathology scores supported these findings.

CONCLUSION

Our hypothesis was supported, and results indicated that the combination of IL-1Ra and lidocaine was as efficacious as IL-1Ra treatment alone in acutely mitigating biological cartilage injury due to IL-1α in an explant model.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The combination of IL-1Ra and lidocaine is stable when reagents are stored in advance of administration at varying temperatures, providing clinically relevant information about storage of medications. The ability to premix and store this drug combination for intra-articular delivery may provide a novel treatment after joint injury to provide pain relief and block inflammation-induced catabolism of joint tissues.

Fracture and Patient Characteristics Associated With Early Conversion Total Hip Arthroplasty After Acetabular Fracture Fixation

OBJECTIVES

To determine risk factors for early conversion total hip arthroplasty (THA) after operative treatment of acetabular fractures.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING

Level I trauma center.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION

We reviewed 685 operative acetabular fractures at our institution from 2011 to 2017, with a median follow-up of 12 months (range, 4-105 months).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Multivariable regression analysis was performed after univariate analysis to identify independent risk factors for conversion THA. Sensitivity analysis was performed with minimum follow-up set at 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

One hundred eight patients (16%) underwent conversion THA, with 52% of conversions occurring within 1 year, an additional 27% within 2 years, and the remaining 21% within 6 years of the index acetabular open reduction internal fixation. The median time to conversion THA was 11.5 months (range, 0.5-72 months). The risk of conversion THA by fracture pattern was 53 of 196 (27%) for transverse posterior wall (TPW), 12 of 52 (23%) for T shaped, 10 of 68 (15%) for posterior column with posterior wall, and 25 of 207 (12%) for posterior wall. Independent risk factors for early conversion included the following: TPW fracture, protrusio, hip dislocation, increased body mass index, increased age, infection, and dislocation after open reduction internal fixation. Independent risk factors for early conversion THA specific to patients with TPW fractures include only increased age and body mass index. Sensitivity analysis showed no change in results using either 6 or 12-month minimum follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Transverse posterior wall fractures have a high risk of early conversion THA compared with other acetabular fracture patterns, especially when in combination with other significant risk factors. Consideration for different and novel management options warrants further study in this subset of acetabular fracture patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Hsa_circ_0134111 promotes osteoarthritis progression by regulating miR-224-5p/CCL1 interaction

Mechanical, metabolic, inflammatory, and immune factors contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA), a joint disease characterized by cartilage destruction. The circular RNA (circRNA) hsa_circ_0134111 is upregulated in the cartilage of OA patients; however, its potential role in OA pathogenesis and progression remains unexplored. In this study, the effects of hsa_circ_0134111 knockdown were evaluated in primary human chondrocytes treated with IL-1β to simulate OA, as well as in a rat model of OA. Hsa_circ_0134111 expression was upregulated in IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays showed that hsa_circ_0134111 knockdown reversed IL-1β-induced cell decline by inhibiting apoptosis. Following prediction analysis of circRNA and miRNA targets, dual-luciferase reporter and silencing/overexpression assays suggested that a regulatory network composed of hsa_circ_0134111, miR-224-5p, and CCL1 modulates IL-1β-mediated OA-like effects in chondrocytes. Accordingly, CCL1 overexpression abrogated the prosurvival effects of hsa_circ_0134111 knockdown in vitro. Moreover, hsa_circ_0134111 silencing in vivo alleviated cartilage destruction in an OA rat model, decreased IL-6 and TNF-α levels in synovial fluid, and downregulated CCL1 expression in the affected joints. These results suggest that hsa_circ_0134111 contributes to OA development by binding to miR-224-5p, thereby releasing the inhibition that miR-224-5p exerts over CCL1.

An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Human Knee Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis (PTOA): Timeline of Clinical Presentation and Disease Markers, Comparison of Knee Joint PTOA Models and Early Disease Implications

Understanding the causality of the post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) disease process of the knee joint is important for diagnosing early disease and developing new and effective preventions or treatments. The aim of this review was to provide detailed clinical data on inflammatory and other biomarkers obtained from patients after acute knee trauma in order to (i) present a timeline of events that occur in the acute, subacute, and chronic post-traumatic phases and in PTOA, and (ii) to identify key factors present in the synovial fluid, serum/plasma and urine, leading to PTOA of the knee in 23-50% of individuals who had acute knee trauma. In this context, we additionally discuss methods of simulating knee trauma and inflammation in in vivo, ex vivo articular cartilage explant and in vitro chondrocyte models, and answer whether these models are representative of the clinical inflammatory stages following knee trauma. Moreover, we compare the pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations used in such models and demonstrate that, compared to concentrations in the synovial fluid after knee trauma, they are exceedingly high. We then used the Bradford Hill Framework to present evidence that TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines are causal factors, while IL-1β and IL-17 are credible factors in inducing knee PTOA disease progresssion. Lastly, we discuss beneficial infrastructure for future studies to dissect the role of local vs. systemic inflammation in PTOA progression with an emphasis on early disease.

Intra-articular collagenase in the spinal facet joint induces pain, DRG neuron dysregulation and increased MMP-1 absent evidence of joint destruction

Degeneration is a hallmark of painful joint disease and is mediated by many proteases that degrade joint tissues, including collagenases. We hypothesized that purified bacterial collagenase would initiate nociceptive cascades in the joint by degrading the capsular ligament's matrix and activating innervating pain fibers. Intra-articular collagenase in the rat facet joint was investigated for its effects on behavioral sensitivity, joint degeneration, and nociceptive pathways in the peripheral and central nervous systems. In parallel, a co-culture collagen gel model of the ligament was used to evaluate effects of collagenase on microscale changes to the collagen fibers and embedded neurons. Collagenase induced sensitivity within one day, lasting for 3 weeks (p < 0.001) but did not alter ligament structure, cartilage health, or chondrocyte homeostasis. Yet, nociceptive mediators were increased in the periphery (substance P, pERK, and MMP-1; p ≤ 0.039) and spinal cord (substance P and MMP-1; p ≤ 0.041). The collagen loss (p = 0.008) induced by exposing co-cultures to collagenase was accompanied by altered neuronal activity (p = 0.002) and elevated neuronal MMP-1 (p < 0.001), suggesting microscale collagen degradation mediates sensitivity in vivo. The induction of sustained sensitivity and nociception without joint damage may explain the clinical disconnect in which symptomatic joint pain patients present without radiographic evidence of joint destruction.

Glenohumeral joint lavage does not affect clinical outcomes in open reduction and internal fixation of displaced intracapsular proximal humeral fractures: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded trial

BACKGROUND

This prospective, randomized, and double-blinded trial evaluates the effect of intraoperative glenohumeral joint lavage in open reduction and internal fixation of displaced intracapsular proximal humeral fractures.

METHODS

Between January 2016 and April 2018, 86 patients (mean age: 65.2 ± 16.3 years) with a displaced intracapsular proximal humeral fracture were treated by open reduction and internal fixation using locking plates. Patients were randomized to either locked plating followed by intraoperatively performed glenohumeral joint lavage (group L, n = 36) or locked plating without the lavage (group NL, n = 36). Functional outcome assessment included range of shoulder motion, strength, and the Constant score, obtained 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. A total of 62 shoulders could be reviewed for final investigation (86% follow-up).

RESULTS

One year after open reduction and internal fixation, the mean Constant score was 70 ± 14 (group L, n = 31) compared with 73 ± 14 (group NL, n = 31, P = .272). The mean forward flexion and abduction in group L was 134 ± 33 and 128 ± 33 as compared with 139 ± 32 and 135 ± 32 in group NL, respectively (P = .538, P = .427). The mean external rotation was 40 ± 16 (group L) compared with 44 ± 16 (group NL) (P = .210). The overall complication rate was 9.6% and did not differ significantly between the groups (P = .321). In group L, there were 2 cases of avascular necrosis (6.5%) and 1 case of secondary displacement (3.2%). In group NL, 1 case of avascular necrosis (3.2%) and 1 case of secondary displacement were noted (3.2%, P = .742).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study do not demonstrate a need for glenohumeral joint lavage in open reduction and internal fixation of displaced intracapsular proximal humeral fractures with regard to shoulder function at 1-year follow-up.

[Differential expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 4 protein in osteoarthritis and normal cartilages]

Objective

To investigate the differential expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 4 (TRPV4) protein in the osteoarthritis (OA) and normal cartilages, and explore the role of TRPV4 in the prevention and treatment of OA.

Methods

The cartilage tissues from the patients of knee OA (OA group) and femoral neck fracture (control group) were taken. In OA group, there were 6 males and 9 females; the age ranged from 55 to 78 years (mean, 69 years); the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) score was 3.0±0.8. In control group, there were 5 males and 10 females; the age ranged from 57 to 91 years (mean, 71 years). There was no significant difference in gender and age between the two groups ( P>0.05). Western blot, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, Masson staining, and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the difference in protein and mRNA expressions of TRPV4 between the OA and normal cartilages. Then the relationship between the K-L score of OA and the rate of TRPV4-positive cells was analyzed.

Results

The relative expression of TRPV4 protein and mRNA in OA group were 0.454±0.199 and 2.951±1.200, which were higher than those in control group (0.165±0.074, 1.437±0.682). The difference in relative expression of TRPV4 protein was significant ( t=2.718, P=0.026). Histology observation showed that the chondrocytes arranged disorderly in OA group, the structure of extracellular matrix was abnormal, and the cartilage defect reached the deep layer. There were more TRPV4-positive cells in the degenerated tissue, and the rate of TRPV4-positive cells was 37.353%±13.496%. The chondrocytes were arranged well in control group, and the rate of TRPV4-positive cells was only 9.642%±3.284%. There was a significant difference between the two groups ( t=7.491, P=0.000). The rate of TRPV4-positive cells in OA group was positively correlated with the OA K-L score ( r=0.775, P=0.001).

Conclusion

The TRPV4 expression increased in OA cartilages that may contribute to the development of OA.

Concentration-Dependent Effects of Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes on Collagen Gel Multiscale Biomechanics and Neuronal Signaling: Implications for Modeling Human Ligamentous Tissues

Abnormal loading of a joint's ligamentous capsule causes pain by activating the capsule's nociceptive afferent fibers, which reside in the capsule's collagenous matrix alongside fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and transmit pain to the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). This study integrated FLS into a DRG-collagen gel model to better mimic the anatomy and physiology of human joint capsules; using this new model, the effect of FLS on multiscale biomechanics and cell physiology under load was investigated. Primary FLS cells were co-cultured with DRGs at low or high concentrations, to simulate variable anatomical FLS densities, and failed in tension. Given their roles in collagen degradation and nociception, matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP-1) and neuronal expression of the neurotransmitter substance P were probed after gel failure. The amount of FLS did not alter (p > 0.3) the gel failure force, displacement, or stiffness. FLS doubled regional strains at both low (p < 0.01) and high (p = 0.01) concentrations. For high FLS, the collagen network showed more reorganization at failure (p < 0.01). Although total MMP-1 and neuronal substance P were the same regardless of FLS concentration before loading, protein expression of both increased after failure, but only in low FLS gels (p ≤ 0.02). The concentration-dependent effect of FLS on microstructure and cellular responses implies that capsule regions with different FLS densities experience variable microenvironments. This study presents a novel DRG-FLS co-culture collagen gel system that provides a platform for investigating the complex biomechanics and physiology of human joint capsules, and is the first relating DRG and FLS interactions between each other and their surrounding collagen network.

Editorial Commentary: Are We Really Ready to Talk About Sports After Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation?

When it comes to return to high-level sports participation, articular cartilage surgical treatment outcomes were historically abysmal, whereas osteochondral allografts have allowed return to sport at rates as high as 88%. However, although osteochondral allograft transplantation effectively reconstructs the damaged articular surface in affected knees, the grafts themselves do nothing to re-establish normal joint homeostasis, resulting in high reoperation rates. Return to sport should require recovery of nearly normal motion and strength, as well as magnetic resonance imaging showing intact cartilage, bony incorporation, and no effusion. These milestones typically occur at 6 months. Persistent joint inflammation and reactivity remain a vexing issue, and long-term durability is of significant concern. In the future, a goal could be to develop biological therapies that could modulate the joint inflammation and catabolism associated with articular cartilage injury.

In silico study of principal sex hormone effects on post-injury synovial inflammatory response

Following an anterior cruciate ligament injury, premenopausal females tend to experience poorer outcomes than males, and sex hormones are thought to contribute to the disparity. Evidence seems to suggest that the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone may regulate the inflammation caused by macrophages, which invade the knee after an injury. While the individual effects of hormones on macrophage inflammation have been studied in vitro, their combined effects on post-injury inflammation in the knee have not been examined, even though both males and females have detectable levels of both estrogen and testosterone. In the present work, we developed an in silico kinetic model of the post-injury inflammatory response in the human knee joint and the hormonal influences that may shape that response. Our results indicate that post-injury, sex hormone concentrations observed in females may lead to a more pro-inflammatory, catabolic environment, while the sex hormone concentrations observed in males may lead to a more anti-inflammatory environment. These findings suggest that the female hormonal milieu may lead to increased catabolism, potentially worsening post-injury damage to the cartilage for females compared to males. The model developed herein may inform future in vitro and in vivo studies that seek to uncover the origins of sex differences in outcomes and may ultimately serve as a starting point for developing targeted therapies to prevent or reduce the cartilage damage that results from post-injury inflammation, particularly for females.

Dehydroepiandrosterone and Experimental Osteoarthritis

Despite an increased understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) and the availability of a number of drugs designed to ameliorate its symptoms, a successful disease-modifying therapy remains elusive. Recent lines of evidence suggest that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a 19-carbon steroid hormone classified as an adrenal androgen, exerts a chondroprotective effect in OA patients, and it has been proven to be an effective DMOAD candidate that slows OA progression. However, the exact mechanisms underlying its anti-OA effect is largely unknown. This review summarizes emerging observations from studies of cell biology, preclinical animal studies, and preliminary clinical trials and describes the findings of investigations on this topic to develop an initial blueprint of the mechanisms by which DHEA slows OA progression. Presently, studies on DMOADs are increasing in importance but have met limited success. Encouragingly, the current data on DHEA are promising and may prove that DHEA-based treatment is efficacious for preventing and slowing human OA progression.

Modulation of Gene Expression in Infrapatellar Fat Pad-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Osteoarthritis

Aim In the osteoarthritis (OA) disease, all structures of the joint are involved. The infrapatellar Hoffa fat pad is rich in macrophages and granulocytes, which also represents a source of adipose mesenchymal progenitor cells (ASC) cells. In our study, we analyze how OA affects the ability of ASC-derived from Hoffa's fat pad to differentiate into chondrocytes. Material and methodology We took knee Hoffa's pad samples and adipose tissue from the proximal thigh from 6 patients diagnosed with severe OA and from another 6 patients with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture without OA. From all the patients, we took subcutaneous adipose tissue from the thigh, as the control group. Samples of synovial fluid (SF) were also extracted. The gene expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results PTH1R and MMP13 expression during chondrogenic differentiation were similar between OA and ACL groups, while the expression of OPG, FGF2, TGFβ, MMP3 were significantly lower in the OA group. Exposure of differentiated ASC to OA SF induced an increase in the expression of OPG, PTH1R, and MMP13 and a decrease in the expression of FGF2 in cell culture of the ACL group. However, expression of none of these factors was altered by the OA synovial fluid in ASC cells of the OA group. Conclusion OA of the knee also affects the mesenchymal stem cells of Hoffa fat, suggesting that Hoffa fat is a new actor in the OA degenerative process that can contribute to the origin, onset, and progression of the disease.

Inflammatory cytokine response is greater in acute tibial plafond fractures than acute tibial plateau fractures

The purpose of the study was to compare the inflammatory cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) concentrations in synovial fluid after acute plafond fracture with acute tibial plateau fracture. Between December 2011 and August 2014, we prospectively enrolled patients with acute tibial plateau and plafond fractures. Synovial fluid aspirations were obtained from injured and uninjured joints. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP-1, TNF-α, MMP-1, -3, -9, -10, -12, and -13 were quantified using multiplex assays. A Bonferroni correction was used so that the adjusted alpha level for significance was p < 0.004. We enrolled 45 tibial plateau fractures and 19 plafond fractures. Mean patient age was 42 years (range, 20-60) and 64% were male patients. There were 24 low-energy (OTA 41B) plateau fractures and eight low-energy (OTA 43B) plafond fractures. There were 21 high-energy (6 OTA 41B3 and 15 OTA 41C) plateau fractures and 11 high-energy (OTA43C) plafond fractures. All cytokines and MMPs except MMP-13 were significantly elevated in plafond fractures compared to uninjured ankles. When comparing acutely injured joints, IL-8 (p < 0.001), IL-1β (p = 0.002), and MMP-12 (p = 0.001) were significantly higher in plafond fractures compared to plateau fractures. Concentrations of IL-1RA (p = 0.008) and MCP-1 (p = 0.005) were higher in plafond fractures, and MMP-10 (p = 0.01) was higher in plateau fractures, but these differences did not reach significance. In conclusion, several cytokines and MMPs were significantly elevated in acute plafond fractures as compared to acute tibial plateau fractures. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2613-2619, 2017.

[Effects of microRNA-140 gene transfection with nucleus localization signal linked nucleic kinase substrate short peptide conjugated chitosan on rabbit articular chondrocytes]

Objective

To investigate the effects of nucleus localization signal linked nucleic kinase substrate short peptide (NNS) conjugated chitosan (CS) ( ^NNSCS) mediated the transfection of microRNA-140 (miR-140) in rabbit articular chondrocytes in vitro.

Methods

Recombinant plasmid GV268-miR-140 and empty plasmid GV268 were combined with ^NNSCS to form ^NNSCS/pDNA complexes, respectively. Chondrocytes were isolated and cultured through trypsin and collagenase digestion from articular cartilage of newborn New Zealand white rabbits. The second generation chondrocytes were divided into 3 intervention groups: normal cell control group (group A), ^NNSCS/GV268 empty plasmid transfection group (group B), and ^NNSCS/GV268-miR-140 transfection group (group C). ^NNSCS/GV268 and ^NNSCS/GV268-miR- 140 complexes were transiently transfected into cells of groups B and C. After transfection, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expressions of exogenous miR-140; Annexin Ⅴ-FITC/PI double staining and MTT assay were used to detect the effect of exogenous miR-140 on apoptosis and proliferation of transfected chondrocytes; the expressions of Sox9, Aggrecan, and histone deacetylase 4 (Hdac4) were detected by RT-qPCR.

Results

RT-qPCR showed that the expression of miR-140 in group C was significantly higher than that in groups A and B ( P<0.05). Compared with groups A and B, the apoptosis rate in group C was decreased and the proliferation activity was improved, Sox9 and Aggrecan gene expressions were significantly up-regulated, and Hdac4 gene expression was significantly down-regulated ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in above indexes between groups A and B ( P>0.05).

Conclusion

Exogenous gene can be carried into the chondrocytes by ^NNSCS and expressed efficiently, the high expression of miR-140 can improve the biological activity of chondrocytes cultured in vitro, which provides important experimental basis for the treatment of cartilage damage diseases.

Quantification of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and a COMP neoepitope in synovial fluid of patients with different joint disorders by novel automated assays

OBJECTIVE

To develop automated immunoassays for the quantification of Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) and a COMP neoepitope in synovial fluid and to investigate their diagnostic potential in different joint conditions.

METHODS

Two sandwich immunoassays were developed for the quantification of COMP and a COMP neoepitope, using an automated analyser (IDS-iSYS, Immunodiagnostic Systems, Boldon, UK). Assay performance was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, recovery, linearity, and intra- and inter-assay precision. Clinical performance was evaluated by analysing synovial fluid from patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), reactive arthritis (ReA), osteoarthritis (OA) or acute trauma (AT).

RESULTS

Both automated assays showed good performance for all parameters tested. Quantification of these biomarkers showed the highest median values for Total COMP in the OA group, followed by the AT group, the ReA group, and the RA group. For the COMP neoepitope the AT group showed the highest median value, followed by the ReA group, the OA group, and the RA group. The ratio COMP neoepitope/Total COMP showed distinct differences between the patients groups, as well as between RA patients with slow or rapid progression of joint damage.

CONCLUSIONS

The newly developed automated assays have a good technical performance, can reliably quantify different epitopes on the COMP molecule and show different levels of the two biomarkers in synovial fluid in patients with different joint diseases. The combination of these two assays, measuring their ratio, shows promise for early detection of patients with RA with different prognosis regarding progression of joint damage.

The extracellular matrix in cancer progression: Role of hyalectan proteoglycans and ADAMTS enzymes

Remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has emerged as a key factor in cancer progression. Proteoglycans, including versican and other hyalectans, represent major structural elements of the ECM where they interact with other important molecules, including the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan and the CD44 cell surface receptor. The hyalectan proteoglycans are regulated through cleavage by the proteolytic actions of A Disintegrin-like And Metalloproteinase domain with Thrombospondin-1 motif (ADAMTS) family members. Alteration in the balance between hyalectan proteoglycans and ADAMTS enzymes has been proposed to be a crucial factor in cancer progression either in a positive or negative manner depending on the context. Further complexity arises due to the formation of bioactive cleavage products, such as versikine, which may also play a role, and non-enzymatic functions for ADAMTS proteins. This research is providing fresh insights into cancer biology and opportunities for the development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies.