Alterations in sclerostin protein in lesions of equine osteochondrosis.
Abstract: Osteochondrosis (OC) is a common and clinically important joint disease that occurs in many species, including humans, pigs, chickens and horses. It has been described as a focal failure of endochondral ossification (EO), but no cellular/molecular mechanisms are fully described that explain the cause of this condition. Recently a Wnt signalling inhibitor, sclerostin, has been described in osteoarthritic cartilage, where it has been proposed to protect damaged cartilage from degradation. Cartilage degradation is a key event in EO, thus, abnormalities of sclerostin in growth cartilage could, potentially, lead to a failure of EO and, thus, OC. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of sclerostin protein in normal and OC growth cartilage. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to localise sclerostin protein in normal and OC growth cartilage. Growth cartilage was harvested from the distal femur of horses aged between 6 and 18 months. Cartilage was classified as normal or having lesions consistent with a diagnosis of early OC. IHC was used to identify sclerostin protein in cartilage sections. Sclerostin protein distribution was semiquantified using a grading system and shown to be upregulated throughout all three zones of cartilage in lesions of OC (IHC score 8.1 compared to IHC score of 0.88). These results indicate that sclerostin may be contributing to the development of OC lesions by inhibiting extracellular matrix remodelling or may reflect the response of damaged cartilage. Clearly, further work is required to fully characterise this observation but, with antisclerostin antibodies used to treat human osteoporosis, the possibility of development of a systemic treatment of OC remains a potential goal.
Publication Date: 2014-02-04 PubMed ID: 26392871PubMed Central: PMC4562441DOI: 10.1136/vropen-2013-000005Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research suggests that alterations in a protein known as sclerostin in horses may contribute to the development of osteochondrosis (OC), a common joint disease. This protein could be inhibiting necessary remodeling or reacting to cartilage damage, and understanding its role could potentially lead to new treatments.
Objective of the Study
- The main aim of this study was to identify the role of the sclerostin protein in the development of osteochondrosis. The researchers also wanted to describe how this protein is distributed in normal and osteochondrotic growth cartilage.
Process of the Study
- Growth cartilage was harvested from the distal femur of horses aged between 6 and 18 months. The collected cartilage was then classified into two types – normal and those with lesions indicative of early osteochondrosis.
- The team used immunohistochemistry (IHC), a method that involves staining cells or tissues to visualize certain proteins, to identify and locate the sclerostin protein in the cartilage samples.
Findings of the Study
- The study found that the sclerostin protein was upregulated – or increased – throughout all three zones of cartilage in lesions associated with osteochondrosis when compared to normal cartilage.
- The distribution of the sclerostin protein was quantified using a grading system. In lesions, the IHC score of sclerostin was significantly higher (8.1), compared to an IHC score of 0.88 in normal cartilage.
Implications of the Study
- The researchers concluded that the sclerostin protein might contribute to the development of osteochondrosis, either by inhibiting extracellular matrix remodelling – a process that is essential for tissue repair – or as a response to cartilage damage.
- Furthermore, the research also suggests the possibility of developing systemic treatments for osteochondrosis, using antisclerostin antibodies. These antibodies are already in use to treat human osteoporosis.
- However, the team emphasized that further research is required to fully understand the role of sclerostin in osteochondrosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Power J, Hernandez P, Wardale J, Henson FM.
(2014).
Alterations in sclerostin protein in lesions of equine osteochondrosis.
Vet Rec Open, 1(1), e000005.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vropen-2013-000005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Orthopaedic Research Unit , University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital , Box 180, Hill's Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ , UK.
- Orthopaedic Research Unit , University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital , Box 180, Hill's Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ , UK.
- Orthopaedic Research Unit , University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital , Box 180, Hill's Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ , UK.
- Orthopaedic Research Unit , University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital , Box 180, Hill's Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ , UK.
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