Degree of synovitis on MRI by comprehensive whole knee semi-quantitative scoring method correlates with histologic and macroscopic features of synovial tissue inflammation in knee osteoarthritis

Objective: To evaluate the association between synovitis on contrast enhanced (CE) MRI with microscopic and macroscopic features of synovial tissue inflammation. Method: Forty-one patients (mean age 60 years, 61% women) with symptomatic radiographic knee OA were studied: twenty underwent arthroscopy (macroscopic features were scored (0-4),...

Osteoarthritis-related fibrosis is associated with both elevated pyridinoline cross-link formation and lysyl hydroxylase 2b expression

Objective: Fibrosis is a major contributor to joint stiffness in osteoarthritis (OA). We investigated several factors associated with the persistence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-induced fibrosis and whether these factors also play a role in OA-related fibrosis. Design: Mice were injected intra-articularly (i.a.) with an adenovirus...

Serum and urinary biochemical markers for knee and hip-osteoarthritis: A systematic review applying the consensus BIPED criteria

Context: Molecules that are released into biological fluids during matrix metabolism of articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and synovial tissue could serve as biochemical markers of the process of osteoarthritis (OA). Unfortunately, actual breakthroughs in the biochemical OA marker field are limited so far. Objective: By reviewing the status...

Does loading influence the severity of cartilage degeneration in the canine groove-model of OA?

Many animal models are used to study osteoarthritis (OA). In these models the role of joint loading in the development of OA is not fully understood. We studied the effect of loading on the development of OA in the canine Groove-model. In ten female beagle dogs OA was induced in one knee according to the Groove-model. The animals were divided in...

The canine bilateral groove model of osteoarthritis

In studies aimed at local treatment of experimental osteoarthritis (OA) it is optimal to have an internal (untreated) OA control. Such an approach excludes interanimal variation, and allows paired statistical evaluation of treatment efficacy. For this purpose, we developed and characterized a bilateral version of the canine Groove model. We...

Clusters of biochemical markers are associated with radiographic subtypes of osteoarthritis (OA) in subject with familial OA at multiple sites. The GARP study

Objective: To assess the relationship of biochemical markers and radiographic signs of osteoarthritis (ROA) in the subjects with symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) at multiple sites of the Genetics osteoARthritis and Progression (GARP) study. Methods: We have measured eight biochemical markers, representing tissue turnover of cartilage, bone,...

RAGE activation induces invasiveness of RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes in vitro

Ligands for the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) are increased in RA synovial fluid (SF), serum and synovium. Since RAGE is present on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), the present study investigates whether the RAGE ligands HMGB-1 and AGEs are able to stimulate the characteristic, pathological invasive behaviour of these...

Defects in articular cartilage metabolism and early arthritis in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 deficient mice

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor 3 has been identified as a key regulator of endochondral bone development and of post-natal bone metabolism through its action on growth plate chondrocytes and osteoblasts, respectively. It has also been shown to promote chondrogenesis and cartilage production by cultured pre-chondrogenic cells in response...

Molecular markers for osteoarthritis: The road ahead

Osteoarthritis is a disabling joint disease that is characterized by the progressive destruction of articular cartilage. Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms in combination with radiography, which is relatively insensitive and provides only an indication of accumulated damage. Alternative methods, such as molecular markers, are therefore...

Human granzyme B mediates cartilage proteoglycan degradation and is expressed at the invasive front of the synovium in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. To investigate the cartilage-degrading capacity of granzyme B and the presence of granzyme B-positive cells at sites of erosion in the rheumatoid synovium. Methods. Granzyme B was added to [3H]proline/[35S]sulphate-labelled cartilage matrices and to cartilage explants. Proteoglycan degradation was assessed by the release of 35S and...

Difference in expression of the plasminogen activation system in synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Proteolytic joint destruction in inflammatory and non-inflammatory arthropathy is believed to be mediated, at least in part, by the plasminogen activation (PA) system. To further investigate possible involvement of the PA system, we quantified immunoreactive urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA),...