ObjectivesTo investigate the roles and regulatory mechanisms of synovial macrophages and their polarisation in the development of osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsSynovial tissues from normal patients and patients with OA were collected. M1 or M2-polarised macrophages in synovial tissues of patients with OA and OA mice were analysed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining. Mice with tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1) or Rheb deletion specifically in the myeloid lineage were generated and subjected to intra-articular injection of collagenase (collagenase-induced osteoarthritis, CIOA) and destabilisation of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery to induce OA. Cartilage damage and osteophyte size were measured by Osteoarthritis Research Society International score and micro-CT, respectively. mRNA sequencing was performed in M1 and control macrophages. Mice and ATDC5 cells were treated with R-spondin-2 (Rspo2) or anti-Rspo2 to investigate the role of Rspo2 in OA.ResultsM1 but not M2-polarised macrophages accumulated in human and mouse OA synovial tissue. TSC1 deletion in the myeloid lineage constitutively activated mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), increased M1 polarisation in synovial macrophages and exacerbated experimental OA in both CIOA and DMM models, while Rheb deletion inhibited mTORC1, enhanced M2 polarisation and alleviated CIOA in mice. The results show that promoting the macrophage M1 polarisation leads to exacerbation of experimental OA partially through secretion of Rspo2 and activation of β-catenin signalling in chondrocytes.ConclusionsSynovial macrophage M1 polarisation exacerbates experimental CIOA partially through Rspo2. M1 macrophages and Rspo2 are potential therapeutic targets for OA treatment.

The present study tested whether activation of the sympathetic tone by aberrant joint loading elicits abnormal subchondral bone remodeling in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis. Abnormal dental occlusion was created in experimental rats, which were then intraperitoneally injected by saline, propranolol or isoproterenol. The norepinephrine contents, distribution of sympathetic nerve fibers, expression of β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) and remodeling parameters in the condylar subchondral bone were investigated. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from condylar subchondral bones were harvested for comparison of their β-ARs, pro-osteoclastic gene expressions and pro-osteoclastic function. Increases in norepinephrine level, sympathetic nerve fiber distribution and β2-AR expression were observed in the condylar subchondral bone of experimental rats, together with subchondral bone loss and increased osteoclast activity. β-antagonist (propranolol) suppressed subchondral bone loss and osteoclast hyperfunction while β-agonist (isoproterenol) exacerbated those responses. MSCs from experimental condylar subchondral bone expressed higher levels of β2-AR and RANKL; norepinephrine stimulation further increased their RANKL expression and pro-osteoclastic function. These effects were blocked by inhibition of β2-AR or the PKA pathway. RANKL expression by MSCs decreased after propranolol administration and increased after isoproterenol administration. It is concluded that β2-AR signal-mediated subchondral bone loss in TMJ osteoarthritisis associated with increased RANKL secretion by MSCs.

mTORC1 activation stimulates articular chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation to initiate OA, in part by downregulating FGFR3 and PPR.

PI3K/AKT signaling is essential in regulating pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA). However, its potential modulatory role in early OA progression has not been investigated yet. Here, a mouse destabilization OA model in the tibia was used to investigate roles of PI3K/AKT signaling in the early subchondral bone changes and OA pathological process. We revealed a significant increase in PI3K/AKT signaling activation which was associated with aberrant bone formation in tibial subchondral bone following destabilizing the medial meniscus (DMM), which was effectively prevented by treatment with PI3K/AKT signaling inhibitor LY294002. PI3K/AKT signaling inhibition attenuated articular cartilage degeneration. Serum and bone biochemical analyses revealed increased levels of MMP-13, which was found expressed mainly by osteoblastic cells in subchondral bone. However, this MMP-13 induction was attenuated by LY294002 treatment. Furthermore, PI3K/AKT signaling was found to enhance preosteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and expression of MMP-13 by activating NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, inhibition of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB axis was able to prevent aberrant bone formation and attenuate cartilage degeneration in OA mice.