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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Orthop Res / Enhanced concentration of COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix ...
Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society2004; 23(1); 156-163; doi: 10.1016/j.orthres.2004.05.013

Enhanced concentration of COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) in osteochondral fractures from racing Thoroughbreds.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to correlate the levels of COMP and aggrecan as indicators of tissue damage, in synovial fluid (sf) from carpal joints of acutely lame racehorses, with macroscopical lesions of articular cartilage (OA), osteochondral fractures and ligament tears found at arthroscopy. Sixty-three lame horses [49 Standardbred trotters (STB) and 14 Thoroughbreds (TB)] in conventional training and racing that underwent arthroscopy of their middle carpal or radiocarpal joints were included in the study. Intact as well as fragmented COMP and aggrecan released into the synovial fluid were quantified by western blot analyses and ELISA. The expression of COMP in tissues was estimated by mRNA in situ hybridisation and protein immunolocalisation in cartilage and osteochondral fractures. The concentration of sf-COMP was higher in TB with an osteochondral fracture than in STB with osteochondral fractures and TB and STB with OA. The chondrocytes in middle and deep zones of the articular cartilage of the osteochondral fragments (from a TB) expressed COMP mRNA, in contrast to the cartilage on the opposite side of the fracture where no expression was detected. In the synovial fluid from a joint (TB) with osteochondral fractures only intact COMP was present, whereas, fragmented COMP was more prominent in synovial fluid from a joint with OA. The concentration of sf-aggrecan did not differ between the two breeds, or between different lesions. The increased concentration of sf-COMP in TB with osteochondral fractures, but not in synovial fluid from equine joints with OA, is a novel finding. The results from this study indicate that elevated sf-COMP concentration in the joints of Thoroughbreds may be a useful marker for carpal joint osteochondral fragments.
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Publication Date: 2004-12-21 PubMed ID: 15607888DOI: 10.1016/j.orthres.2004.05.013Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates the association between the levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and aggrecan in synovial fluid and tissue damage in the carpal joints of lame racehorses. The study suggests that high levels of COMP in synovial fluid may be a useful marker for osteochondral fragments in the carpal joints of Thoroughbreds.

Study Objectives and Methodology

  • The main goal of the study was to find a correlation between COMP and aggrecan levels in synovial fluid and physical signs of damage in the articular cartilage, osteochondral fractures, and ligament tears discovered during arthroscopy.
  • The study included 63 lame racehorses, comprising of 49 Standardbred trotters (STB) and 14 Thoroughbreds (TB), which were all under conventional training and racing.
  • Arthroscopies of the middle carpal or radiocarpal joints of these horses were conducted to identify any tissue damage.
  • COMP and aggrecan in the synovial fluid were quantified through western blot analyses and ELISA. Additionally, COMP expression in tissues was estimated by mRNA in situ hybridization and protein immunolocalization in cartilage and osteochondral fractures.

Key Findings

  • The concentration of synovial fluid COMP in Thoroughbreds with an osteochondral fracture was higher than those in Standardbred trotters with osteochondral fractures and in both Thoroughbreds and trotters with osteoarthritis (OA).
  • Chondrocytes in the middle and deep zones of articular cartilage from osteochondral fragments expressed COMP mRNA, while the cartilage on the opposite side of the fracture showed no such expression.
  • Synovial fluid from a joint with osteochondral fractures only contained intact COMP, while fragmented COMP was more apparent in a joint afflicted with OA.
  • The concentration of synovial fluid aggrecan did not differ significantly between the two breeds or between different lesions.

Significance of the Research

  • The study highlights the possible use of COMP as a biomarker for detecting osteochondral fractures in Thoroughbreds, providing a non-invasive tool for early diagnosis and subsequent treatment of this critical condition.
  • The finding that only intact COMP is present in synovial fluid from joints with osteochondral fractures is a novel discovery, which may contribute to further understanding of the biology of these fractures.

Cite This Article

APA
Skiöldebrand E, Heinegård D, Eloranta ML, Nilsson G, Dudhia J, Sandgren B, Ekman S. (2004). Enhanced concentration of COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) in osteochondral fractures from racing Thoroughbreds. J Orthop Res, 23(1), 156-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orthres.2004.05.013

Publication

Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society
ISSN: 0736-0266
NlmUniqueID: 8404726
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 23
Issue: 1
Pages: 156-163

Researcher Affiliations

Skiöldebrand, E
  • Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 7028, SLU, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden. eva.skioldebrand@telia.com
Heinegård, D
    Eloranta, M-L
      Nilsson, G
        Dudhia, J
          Sandgren, B
            Ekman, S

              MeSH Terms

              • Aggrecans
              • Animals
              • Blotting, Western
              • Carpal Bones / chemistry
              • Cartilage, Articular / injuries
              • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / analysis
              • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
              • Female
              • Fractures, Bone / metabolism
              • Fractures, Cartilage
              • Glycoproteins / analysis
              • Glycoproteins / genetics
              • Horses
              • Lectins, C-Type
              • Male
              • Matrilin Proteins
              • Proteoglycans / analysis
              • RNA, Messenger / analysis
              • Synovial Fluid / chemistry

              Citations

              This article has been cited 9 times.
              1. Smith R, Önnerfjord P, Holmgren K, di Grado S, Dudhia J. Development of a Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Neo-Epitope Assay for the Detection of Intra-Thecal Tendon Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Mar 20;21(6).
                doi: 10.3390/ijms21062155pubmed: 32245107google scholar: lookup
              2. Bourebaba L, Röcken M, Marycz K. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in Horses - Molecular Background of its Pathogenesis and Perspectives for Progenitor Stem Cell Therapy. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2019 Jun;15(3):374-390.
                doi: 10.1007/s12015-019-09875-6pubmed: 30796679google scholar: lookup
              3. Ekman S, Lindahl A, Rüetschi U, Jansson A, Björkman K, Abrahamsson-Aurell K, Björnsdóttir S, Löfgren M, Hultén LM, Skiöldebrand E. Effect of circadian rhythm, age, training and acute lameness on serum concentrations of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) neo-epitope in horses. Equine Vet J 2019 Sep;51(5):674-680.
                doi: 10.1111/evj.13082pubmed: 30739342google scholar: lookup
              4. Ma T, Zhang Z, Song X, Bai H, Li Y, Li X, Zhao J, Ma Y, Gao L. Combined detection of COMP and CS846 biomarkers in experimental rat osteoarthritis: a potential approach for assessment and diagnosis of osteoarthritis. J Orthop Surg Res 2018 Sep 12;13(1):230.
                doi: 10.1186/s13018-018-0938-3pubmed: 30208927google scholar: lookup
              5. Ma TW, Li Y, Wang GY, Li XR, Jiang RL, Song XP, Zhang ZH, Bai H, Li X, Gao L. Changes in Synovial Fluid Biomarkers after Experimental Equine Osteoarthritis. J Vet Res 2017 Dec;61(4):503-508.
                doi: 10.1515/jvetres-2017-0056pubmed: 29978116google scholar: lookup
              6. Bertuglia A, Pagliara E, Grego E, Ricci A, Brkljaca-Bottegaro N. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and structural biomarkers are effective to categorize osteoarthritis phenotype and progression in Standardbred racehorses over five years of racing career. BMC Vet Res 2016 Nov 8;12(1):246.
                doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0873-7pubmed: 27821120google scholar: lookup
              7. Peffers MJ, Beynon RJ, Clegg PD. Absolute quantification of selected proteins in the human osteoarthritic secretome. Int J Mol Sci 2013 Oct 15;14(10):20658-81.
                doi: 10.3390/ijms141020658pubmed: 24132152google scholar: lookup
              8. Lin Y, Luo E, Chen X, Liu L, Qiao J, Yan Z, Li Z, Tang W, Zheng X, Tian W. Molecular and cellular characterization during chondrogenic differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells in vitro and cartilage formation in vivo. J Cell Mol Med 2005 Oct-Dec;9(4):929-39.
                doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2005.tb00389.xpubmed: 16364200google scholar: lookup
              9. Lisee C, Obudzinski S, Pietrosimone BG, Alexander Creighton R, Kamath G, Longobardi L, Loeser R, Schwartz TA, Spang JT. Association of Serum Biochemical Biomarker Profiles of Joint Tissue Inflammation and Cartilage Metabolism With Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis-Related Symptoms at 12 Months After ACLR. Am J Sports Med 2024 Aug;52(10):2503-2511.
                doi: 10.1177/03635465241262797pubmed: 39129267google scholar: lookup
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