The Protective Effect of New Carnosine-Hyaluronic Acid Conjugate on the Inflammation and Cartilage Degradation in the Experimental Model of Osteoarthritis

Protective effect of a novel polyherbal formulation on experimentally induced osteoarthritis in a rat model

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a musculoskeletal disorder mainly found in elderly individuals. Modern treatment of OA, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid injections, etc., is linked to long-term side effects. We evaluated the anti-osteoarthritic properties of a novel joint health formula (JHF) containing Bisdemethoxycurcumin enriched curcumin, 3-O-Acetyl-11-keto-beta-Boswellic acid-enriched Boswellia, and Ashwagandha in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced knee OA in rats. Twenty-eight female rats were distributed into four groups: Control, OA, OA + JHF (100 mg/kg), and OA + JHF (200 mg/kg). JHF decreased the right joint diameters but increased the paw area and stride length compared to the OA group with no treatment. JHF significantly reduced the arthritic conditions after four weeks of supplementation (p < 0.05). JHF significantly decreased TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, COMP, and CRP in the serum of osteoarthritic rats (p < 0.0001). We observed reduced lipid peroxidation but increased SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities in response to JHF treatment in OA animals. JHF down-regulated MMP-3, COX-2, and LOX-5 and improved the histological structure of the knee joint of osteoarthritic rats. JHF demonstrated a protective effect against osteoarthritis, possibly due to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in experimentally induced osteoarthritis in rats, and could be an effective option in the management of OA.

Carnosine Alleviates Knee Osteoarthritis and Promotes Synoviocyte Protection via Activating the Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway: An In-Vivo and In-Vitro Study

The most common joint disease in the elderly is knee osteoarthritis (OA). It is distinguished by cartilage degradation, subchondral bone loss, and a decrease in joint space. We studied the effects of carnosine (CA) on knee OA in male Wistar rats. OA is induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection combined with medial meniscectomy (ACLT+MMx) method and in vitro studies are conducted in fibroblast-like synoviocyte cells (FLS). The pain was assessed using weight-bearing and paw-withdrawal tests. CA supplementation significantly reduced pain. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to detect inflammatory proteins in the blood and intra-articular synovial fluid (IASF), and CA reduced the levels of inflammatory proteins. Histopathological studies were performed on knee-tissue samples using toluidine blue and hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) assays. CA treatment improved synovial protection and decreased cartilage degradation while decreasing zonal depth lesions. Furthermore, Western blotting studies revealed that the CA-treated group activated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase (HO-1) and reduced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). FLS cells were isolated from the knee joints and treated with IL-1β to stimulate the inflammatory response and increase reactive oxygen species (ROS). The matrix metalloproteinase protein (MMP's) levels (MMP-3, and MMP-13) were determined using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and CA treatment reduced the MMP's expression levels. When tested using the 2',7'-dicholorodihydrofluroscene diacetate (DCFDA) assay and the 5,5',6,6'-tetracholoro-1,1',3,3'-tertraethylbenzimidazolcarboc janine iodide (JC-1) assay in augmented ROS FLS cells, CA reduced the ROS levels and improved the mitochondrial membrane permeability. This study's investigation suggests that CA significantly alleviates knee OA both in vitro and in vivo.

Synergistic Effect of L-Carnosine and Hyaluronic Acid in Their Covalent Conjugates on the Antioxidant Abilities and the Mutual Defense against Enzymatic Degradation

Hyaluronic acid (Hy) is a natural linear polymer that is widely distributed in different organisms, especially in the articular cartilage and the synovial fluid. During tissue injury due to oxidative stress, Hy plays an important protective role. All the beneficial properties of Hy make the polymer attractive for many biomedical uses; however, the low stability and short biological half-life limit Hy application. To overcome these problems, the addition of small antioxidant molecules to Hy solution has been employed to protect the molecular integrity of Hy or delay its degradation. Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine, Car) protects cells from the damage due to the reactive species derived from oxygen (ROS), nitrogen (RNS) or carbonyl groups (RCS). Car inhibits the degradation of hyaluronan induced by free radical processes in vitro but, like Hy, the potential protective action of Car is drastically hampered by the enzymatic hydrolysis in vivo. Recently, we conjugated Hy to Car and the derivatives (HyCar) showed protective effects in experimental models of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in vivo. Here we report the antioxidant activity exerted by HyCar against ROS, RNS and RCS. Moreover, we tested if the covalent conjugation between Hy and Car inhibits the enzymatic hydrolysis of the polymer and the dipeptide backbone. We found that the antioxidant properties and the resistance to the enzymatic hydrolysis of Hy and Car are greatly improved by the conjugation.

Hyaluronic Acid: A Key Ingredient in the Therapy of Inflammation

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural polymer, produced endogenously by the human body, which has unique physicochemical and biological properties, exhibiting desirable biocompatibility and biodegradability. Therefore, it has been widely studied for possible applications in the area of inflammatory diseases. Although exogenous HA has been described as unable to restore or replace the properties and activities of endogenous HA, it can still provide satisfactory pain relief. This review aims to discuss the advances that have been achieved in the treatment of inflammatory diseases using hyaluronic acid as a key ingredient, essentially focusing on studies carried out between the years 2017 and 2021.

Schisandrol A Suppresses Catabolic Factor Expression by Blocking NF-κB Signaling in Osteoarthritis

Schisandrol A possesses pharmacological properties and is used to treat various diseases; however, its effects on osteoarthritis (OA) progression remain unclear. Here, we investigated Schisandrol A as a potential therapeutic agent for OA. In vitro, Schisandrol A effects were confirmed based on the levels of expression of catabolic factors (MMPs, ADAMTS5, and Cox2) induced by IL-1β or Schisandrol A treatment in chondrocytes. In vivo, experimental OA in mice was induced using a destabilized medial meniscus (DMM) surgical model or oral gavage of Schisandrol A in a dose-dependent manner, and demonstrated using histological analysis. In vitro and in vivo analyses demonstrated that Schisandrol A inhibition attenuated osteoarthritic cartilage destruction via the regulation of Mmp3, Mmp13, Adamts5, and Cox2 expression. In the NF-κB signaling pathway, Schisandrol A suppressed the degradation of IκB and the phosphorylation of p65 induced by IL-1β. Overall, and Schisandrol A reduced the expression of catabolic factors by blocking NF-κB signaling and prevented cartilage destruction. Therefore, Schisandrol A attenuated OA progression, and can be used to develop novel OA drug therapies.

The Role of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Nuts on an Experimental Model of Painful Degenerative Joint Disease

Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint disease characterized by the activation of different molecular mediators, including proinflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, metalloproteinases and nociceptive mediators. Anacardium occidentale L. is a medicinal plant with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study we evaluate the effects of cashew nuts (from Anacardium occidentale L.) oral administration on an experimental model of painful degenerative joint disease. Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) was intraarticularly injected, and cashew nuts were orally administered three times per week for 21 days, starting the third day after MIA injection. Nociception was evaluated by a Von Frey filament test, and motor function by walking track analysis at 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after osteoarthritis. Histological and biochemical alteration were examined at the end of the experiment. Cashew nuts administration reduced pain-like behavior and showed antioxidant activities, restoring biochemical serum parameters: glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, cashew nuts ameliorated radiographic and histological alteration, resulting in decreased cartilage degradation, pro-inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases levels and mast cells recruitment. Our results demonstrated that the oral assumption of cashew nuts counteracts the inflammatory and oxidative process involved in osteoarthritis.