Inhibition of interleukin-1β-stimulated matrix metalloproteinases via the controlled release of interleukin-1Ra from chitosan microspheres in chondrocytes

Research Progress on Injectable Microspheres as New Strategies for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Through Promotion of Cartilage Repair

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease caused by a variety of factors with joint pain as the main symptom, including fibrosis, chapping, ulcers, and loss of cartilage. Traditional treatment can only delay the progression of OA, and classical delivery system have many side effects. In recent years, microspheres have shown great application prospects in the field of OA treatment. Microspheres can support cells, reproduce the natural tissue microenvironment in vitro and in vivo, and are an efficient delivery system for the release of drugs or biological agents, which can promote cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Thus, they have been widely used in cartilage repair and regeneration. In this review, preparation processes, basic materials, and functional characteristics of various microspheres commonly used in OA treatment are systematically reviewed. Then it is introduced surface modification strategies that can improve the biological properties of microspheres and discussed a series of applications of microsphere functionalized scaffolds in OA treatment. Finally, based on bibliometrics research, the research development, future potential, and possible research hotspots of microspheres in the field of OA therapy is systematically and dynamically evaluated. The comprehensive and systematic review will bring new understanding to the field of microsphere treatment of OA.

Spinacia oleracea extract attenuates disease progression and sub-chondral bone changes in monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis in rats

Background

Spinacia oleracea is an important dietary vegetable in India and throughout the world and has many beneficial effects. It is cultivated globally. However, its effect on osteoarthritis that mainly targets the cartilage cells remains unknown. In this study we aimed to evaluate the anti-osteoarthritic and chondro-protective effects of SOE on chemically induced osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

OA was induced by intra-patellar injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) at the knee joint in rats. SOE was then given orally at 250 and 500 mg.kg^− 1 day^− 1 doses for 28 days to these rats. Anti-osteoarthritic potential of SOE was evaluated by micro-CT, mRNA and protein expression of pro-inflammatory and chondrogenic genes, clinically relevant biomarker’s and behavioural experiments.

Results

In vitro cell free and cell based assays indicated that SOE acts as a strong anti-oxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent. Histological analysis of knee joints at the end of the experiment by safranin-o and toluidine blue staining established its protective effect. Radiological data corroborated the findings with improvement in the joint space and irregularity of the articular and atrophied femoral condyles and tibial plateau. Micro-CT analysis of sub-chondral bone indicated that SOE had the ability to mitigate OA effects by increasing bone volume to tissue volume (BV/TV) which resulted in decrease of trabecular pattern factor (Tb.Pf) by more than 200%. SOE stimulated chondrogenic marker gene expression with reduction in pro-inflammatory markers. Purified compounds isolated from SOE exhibited increased Sox-9 and Col-II protein expression in articular chondrocytes. Serum and urine analysis indicated that SOE had the potential to down-regulate glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, clinical markers of osteoarthritis like cartilage oligometric matrix protein (COMP) and CTX-II. Overall, this led to a significant improvement in locomotion and balancing activity in rats as assessed by Open-field and Rota rod test.

Conclusion

On the basis of in vitro and in vivo experiments performed with Spinacea oleracea extract we can deduce that SOE has the ability to alleviate the MIA induced deleterious effects.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2117-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Men and Women Differ in the Biochemical Composition of Platelet-Rich Plasma

BACKGROUND

Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used for a variety of clinical applications. However, clinical outcome studies have not consistently shown positive effects. The composition of PRP differs based on many factors. An improved understanding of factors influencing the composition of PRP is important for the optimization of PRP use.

HYPOTHESIS

Age and sex influence the PRP composition in healthy patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

METHODS

Blood from 39 healthy patients was collected at a standardized time and processed into leukocyte-poor PRP within 1 hour of collection using the same laboratory centrifuge protocol and frozen for later analysis. Eleven female and 10 male patients were "young" (aged 18-30 years), while 8 male and 10 female patients were "older" (aged 45-60 years). Thawed PRP samples were assessed for cytokine and growth factor levels using a multiplex assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The platelet count and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were measured. Two-way analysis of variance determined age- and sex-based differences.

RESULTS

Platelet and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentrations were similar in PRP between the groups ( P = .234). Male patients had higher cytokine and growth factor levels in PRP compared with female patients for inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) (9.83 vs 7.71 pg/mL, respectively; P = .008) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (131.6 vs 110.5 pg/mL, respectively; P = .048); the anti-inflammatory IL-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) (298.0 vs 218.0 pg/mL, respectively; P < .001); and growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF-basic) (237.9 vs 194.0 pg/mL, respectively; P = .01), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) (3296.2 vs 2579.3 pg/mL, respectively; P = .087), and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) (118.8 vs 92.8 ng/mL, respectively; P = .002). Age- but not sex-related differences were observed for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) ( P < .001). Age and sex interaction terms were not significant. While mean differences were significant, there was also substantial intragroup variability.

CONCLUSION

This study in healthy patients shows differences in the composition of PRP between men and women, with sex being a greater factor than age. There was also proteomic variability within the groups. These data support a personalized approach to PRP treatment and highlight the need for a greater understanding of the relationships between proteomic factors in PRP and clinical outcomes.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Variability in the proteomic profile of PRP may affect tissue and clinical responses to treatment. These data suggest that clinical studies should account for the composition of PRP used.

Protective effect of controlled release of cytokine response modifier A from chitosan microspheres on rat chondrocytes from interleukin-1β induced inflammation and apoptosis

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of cytokine response modifier A (CrmA) released from chitosan (CS) microspheres in a controlled manner on interleukin (IL)-1β-induced inflammation and apoptosis in chondrocytes. The CrmA release kinetics were characterized by an initial burst release, which was reduced to a linear release over 8 days. Furthermore, chondrocytes were isolated from 1-week-old Sprague Dawley rats. The cell culture was established by stimulation with 10 ng/ml IL-1β and subsequent incubation with CS-CrmA microspheres. Following stimulation with IL-1β, the viability of chondrocytes was decreased. However, the cell viability was attenuated by CS-CrmA microspheres as revealed by a cell counting kit-8 assay. CS-CrmA microspheres significantly inhibited IL-1β-induced inflammation in chondrocytes by attenuating increases in the gene expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, as well as the concentrations of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2. CS-CrmA microspheres significantly decreased the number of apoptotic chondrocytes induced by IL-1β as indicated by a terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling assay. In addition, CS-CrmA microspheres blocked IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis by increasing B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and decreasing Bcl-2-associated X protein, caspase-3 and poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase expression at the mRNA and protein levels, as indicated by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. The results of the present study revealed that CS-CrmA microspheres, as a controlled release system of CrmA, may protect rat chondrocytes from IL-1β-induced inflammation and apoptosis via regulating inflammatory and apoptosis-associated genes.

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects of two platelet-rich gel supernatants in an in vitro system of cartilage inflammation

OBJECTIVES

To study, in normal cartilage explants (CEs) challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the temporal effects (at 48 and 96h) of leukocyte- and platelet-rich gel (L-PRG) and pure platelet-rich gel (P-PRG) supernatants on the production and degradation of platelet-associated growth factors (GFs) (platelet-derived GF isoform BB [PDGF-BB] and transforming growth factor beta-1 [TGF-β1]), pro-inflammatory (tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 4 [IL-4] and IL-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1ra]).

METHODS

CEs from six horses were challenged with LPS and cultured for 96h with L-PRG and P-PRG supernatants at concentrations of 25% and 50%, respectively. The CE culture medium was changed every 48h and used for determination, by ELISA, of PDGF-BB, TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-1ra.

RESULTS

Both the 25% and 50% PRG supernatants produced a different molecular profile in the culture media, unlike that of the CE challenged with LPS only. 50% L-PRG produced the most sustained release of growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines, although it produced the highest TNF-α release. PDGF-BB was significantly correlated with IL-1ra and TNF-α concentrations, whereas TNF-α was correlated with IL-4.

CONCLUSIONS

50% L-PRG supernatant produced a more sustained concentration of growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines than the other hemoderivatives evaluated. This substance could be evaluated in animal models of arthritis or in patients with arthropathies.