Objective. To determine if n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation (versus treatment with n-6 polyunsaturated or other fatty acid supplements) affects the metabolism of osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage.Methods. The metabolic profile of human OA cartilage was determined at the time of harvest and after 24-hour exposure to n-3 PUFAs or other classes of Conclusion. These studies show that the pathologic indicators manifested in human OA cartilage can be significantly altered by exposure of the cartilage to n-3 PUFA, but not to other classes of fatty acids.

These results demonstrate that after ACL transection, extracellular matrix deposition as well as altered matrix organization and altered cell distribution occur early in the medial meniscus.

No abstract

Objective. To examine the effects of tenidap and diclofenac on osteoarthritic lesions and metalloprotease activity in experimental osteoarthritis (OA).Methods. The anterior cruciate ligament of the right stifle joint of 25 mongrel dogs was sectioned by a stab wound. Seven dogs received no treatment, 6 were treated with oral omeprazole (20 mg/day), another 6 were treated with diclofenac (0.25 mg/kg/twice daily) plus omeprazole (20 mg/day), and 6 received oral tenidap (3 mg/kg/twice daily) plus omeprazole (20 mg/ day). The dogs received medication for 8 weeks; all dogs were killed at the end of this period. Eight normal dogs were used as controls. Lesions were evaluated macroscopically for the incidence and size of osteophytes and the area and grade of cartilage erosions on the condyles and plateaus, along with histologic evaluation of the severity of the cartilage lesions and synovial inflammation. Stromelysin and collagenase activities and the collagenase messenger RNA (mRNA) level were measured in cartilage and synovial membrane.Results. Compared with the untreated or omeprazole-treated OA groups, the dogs treated with tenidap exhibited significant reduction in the incidence (P 5 0.001) and size (P 5 0.0001) of osteophytes. Tenidap also significantly decreased the size and grade of cartilage macroscopic lesions, as well as the histologic severity of cartilage lesions on both condyles and plateaus. The histologic severity of synovial inflammatory reaction was also significantly reduced (P I 0.003) in the tenidap group. Tenidap markedly decreased stromelysin and collagenase activity in both cartilage (stromelysin P I 0.003; collagenase P I 0.01) and synovial membrane (stromelysin P 5 0.003; collagenase P 5 0.005). Moreover, tenidap also decreased the collagenase mRNA level in cartilage (P 5 0.005) and synovial membrane (P 5 0.002). Diclofenac slightly reduced the incidence and size of osteophytes and cartilage lesions, but these changes were not statistically significant. Diclofenac had no effect on the severity of synovial inflammation, metalloprotease activity, or collagenase expression.Conchsion. This study showed that tenidap had a more potent anti-osteoarthritic effect than diclofenac in this model. The effect of the drug in suppressing metalloprotease synthesis, a process known to play a major role in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritic lesions, may explain its mechanism of action.Transection of the anterior cruciate ligament of the dog knee leads to articular changes which resemble the morphologic and biochemical changes seen in human osteoarthritis (OA) (1-3). Cartilage lesions are probably related to mechanical as well as biochemical factors, including the enzymatic cleavage of matrix macromolecules (4). Matrix metalloproteases (MMP), such as collagenase and stromelysin, have been found to be significantly increased in OA cartilage and synovial membrane, in humans as well as in the experimental dog model (4-6). It is becoming more and more

The markers separated into rational groups on the basis of their covariance, a finding with independent biochemical support. The covariance of markers from the same cluster suggests the use of a representative marker from the cluster to reflect changes in osteoarthritis. If multiple markers are being measured within a single cluster, then the use of a weighted cluster 'factor' may be preferable to the separate use of individual markers.