Evaluation of serum chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronan: biomarkers for osteoarthritis in canine hip dysplasia

Abstract

Hip dysplasia (HD) is one of the most important bone and joint diseases in dogs. Making the radiographic diagnosis is sometime possible when the disease has markedly progressed. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronan (HA) are the most important cartilage biomolecules that are elevated in the serum taken from dogs with osteoarthritis. The serum CS and HA can be detected by an ELISA technique, with using monoclonal antibodies against CS epitope 3B3 and WF6 and the HA chain as the primary antibodies. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of serum CS (both epitopes) and HA in non-HD and HD dogs. All 123 dogs were categorized into 2 groups. The non-HD group was composed of 98 healthy dogs, while the HD group was comprised of 25 HD dogs. Blood samples were collected for analyzing the serum CS and HA levels with using the ELISA technique. The results showed that the average serum level of the CS epitope WF6 in the HD group (2,594 ± 3,036.10 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in the non-HD group (465 ± 208.97 ng/ml) (p < 0.01) while the epitope 3B3 in the HD group (105 ± 100.05 ng/ml) was significantly lower than that in the non-HD group (136 ± 142.03 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). The amount of serum HA in the HD group (134.74 ± 59.71 ng/ml) was lower than that in the non HD group (245.45 ± 97.84 ng/ml) (p < 0.05). The results indicate that the serum CS and HA levels might be used as biomarkers for osteoarthritis in HD dogs.

Effect of Swimming on Clinical Functional Parameters and Serum Biomarkers in Healthy and Osteoarthritic Dogs

“…This result was similar to our previous study on dogs with hip dysplasia [23], which showed that the serum levels of CS-WF6 increased, while HA levels decreased. Taken together with other reports [4, 21], this demonstrates the usefulness of these biomarkers to predict the progress of OA.…”

Protein biomarkers in serum and urine for determining presence or absence of hip dysplasia in a canine model

“…Alternatively, body fluid proteins are being evaluated for their capabilities in screening for, diagnosing, staging, and monitoring the development and progression of OA in CHD and other joint disorders. To date, OA research using protein biomarkers has primarily focused on breakdown products of articular cartilage in serum and/or synovial fluid . No significant differences were found in CTX‐II concentrations in synovial fluid between controls and dogs affected with OA, while CTX‐II levels in the urine of dysplastic dogs were significantly lower than non‐dysplastic dogs in the present study.…”

“…To date, OA research using protein biomarkers has primarily focused on breakdown products of articular cartilage in serum and/or synovial fluid. 14,23,[32][33][34] No significant differences were found in CTX-II concentrations in synovial fluid between controls and dogs affected with OA, 35 while CTX-II levels in the urine of dysplastic dogs were significantly lower than non-dysplastic dogs in the present study. Another study showed significantly increased levels of TIMP-1, and no significant differences in MMP3 levels in serum and synovial fluid of dogs with CHD compared to non-dysplastic controls.…”

Using Animal Models in Osteoarthritis Biomarker Research

“…73,79,85,87 In contrast to synovial fluid data, serum concentrations in dogs with hip dysplasia were lower than those without joint disease. 88 While direct markers may more closely represent the status of joint degeneration, indirect markers, including but not limited to cytokines, can be used to learn more about the processes preceding or leading to the development of OA. Cytokine and chemokine fluctuations within the synovial fluid of osteoarthritic patients have been documented, but comprehensive assessment of the potential clinical significance of those alterations is largely lacking in the literature.…”