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ObjectivesEmerging data suggest that several metabolic factors, released mainly by white adipose tissue (WAT) and joint tissues, and collectively named adipokines, might have a role in the pathophysiology of OA. Recently, novel adipokines such as SERPINE2, WISP2, GPNMB and ITIH5 have been identified in WAT. The main goal of this study was to analyse the expression of these novel adipokines in synovium, infrapatellar fat pad and chondrocytes and to compare the expression of these molecules in healthy and OA tissues.MethodsSynovial tissues, infrapatellar fat pad and chondrocytes were obtained from 36 OA patients (age 52–85; mean BMI 28.9) who underwent total knee replacement surgery. Healthy synovial tissues and infrapatellar fat pad were obtained from 15 traumatic knee patients (age 23–53; mean BMI 23.5). mRNA and protein expression were determined by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis respectively.ResultsAll the novel adipokines, matter of our study, are expressed in OA synovium, infrapatellar fat pad and chondrocytes. Moreover, we detected a differential expression of SERPINE2 and ITIH5 in OA synovial tissues as compared to healthy samples. Finally, we also observed an increased expression of WISP2 in OA infrapatellar fat pad in comparison to healthy controls.ConclusionsIn this study we demonstrated for the first time the expression of four novel adipokines in different joint tissues and how these molecules are differentially expressed in healthy and OA joint tissues.

The platelet antiaggregant activity of 17 aqueous extracts of plants traditionally used in Guatemala for the treatment of ‘blood disorders’ and parasitic infections were assayed. The aggregation of washed human platelets induced by thrombin (0.075 U/mL) was inhibited by extracts of Tridax procumbens, Tagetes lucida, Annona reticulata, Neurolaena lobata, Bixa orellana, Rauvolfia tetraphylla, Petiveria alliacea and Tecoma stans. The other extracts did not have clear inhibitory effects, and indeed caused some platelet aggregation themselves, in the absence of thrombin. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.