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Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14456

Identification and characterisation of temporal abundance of microRNAs in synovial fluid from an experimental equine model of osteoarthritis.

Abstract: MicroRNAs, a class of small noncoding RNAs, serve as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression and are present in a stable and quantifiable form in biological fluids. MicroRNAs may influence intra-articular responses and the course of disease, but very little is known about their temporal changes in osteoarthritis. Objective: To identify miRNAs and characterise the temporal changes in their abundance in SF from horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis. We hypothesised that the abundance of miRNA would change during disease progression. Methods: In vivo experiments. Methods: RNA extracted from synovial fluid obtained sequentially (Day 0, 28 and 70) from nine horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis was subjected to small RNA sequencing using the Illumina Hiseq 4000 sequencing platform. Differentially abundant miRNAs underwent further validation and mapping of temporal abundance (Day 0, 14, 17, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63 and 70 days after osteoarthritis induction) by microfluidic reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR. Bioinformatic analyses were performed to predict potential biological associations and target genes of the differentially abundant microRNAs. Results: Small RNA sequencing revealed 61 differentially abundant microRNAs at an early osteoarthritis stage (Day 28), and subsequent reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR analysis validated 20 of these. Significant biological functions of the differentially abundant microRNAs were apoptosis, necrosis, cell proliferation and cell invasion. Following validation, four microRNAs (miRNA-199b-3p, miRNA-139-5p, miRNA-1839 and miRNA-151-5p) were detected in more than 50% of the synovial fluid samples and had higher abundance in osteoarthritic than in control joints. Conclusions: Limited sample size. Conclusions: This is the first study to determine longitudinal changes in synovial fluid microRNA abundance in an equine model of osteoarthritis. Larger studies are needed in naturally occurring osteoarthritis to interrogate putative changes identified by this study.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-08 PubMed ID: 39775906DOI: 10.1111/evj.14456Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research defines the temporal evolution of microRNAs found in synovial fluid from horses that have been experimentally induced with osteoarthritis. This study provides new insights into potential biological associations and target genes of the differentially abundant microRNAs, contributing to our understanding of osteoarthritis progression in horses.

Objectives and Hypothesis

  • The primary objective of this research was to identify microRNAs and characterise the temporal changes in their abundance in synovial fluid from horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis.
  • The researchers hypothesised that the abundance of microRNA would change during the progression of the disease.

Methods and Techniques

  • A total of nine horses with experimentally induced osteoarthritis provided synovial fluid samples on Day 0, 28, and 70.
  • The RNA was extracted from these samples and then subjected to small RNA sequencing using the Illumina Hiseq 4000 sequencing platform.
  • The differentially abundant microRNAs were further validated and mapped for their temporal abundance by performing reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR.
  • Bioinformatic analyses were also executed to predict potential biological associations and target genes of these differentially abundant microRNAs.

Principal Findings

  • Small RNA sequencing revealed 61 differentially abundant microRNAs at an early stage of osteoarthritis (Day 28).
  • Out of these, 20 microRNAs were validated through reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR analysis.
  • These differentially abundant microRNAs were found to perform significant biological functions such as apoptosis, necrosis, cell proliferation, and cell invasion.
  • Furthermore, four microRNAs (miRNA-199b-3p, miRNA-139-5p, miRNA-1839 and miRNA-151-5p) were detected in more than half of the synovial fluid samples and had a higher abundance in osteoarthritic joints than in control joints.

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • This research is pioneering in assessing longitudinal changes in synovial fluid microRNA abundance in an experimental equine model of osteoarthritis.
  • However, due to the limited sample size, larger studies are needed, particularly in naturally occurring osteoarthritis cases, to investigate the putative changes identified by this study.

Cite This Article

APA
Walters M, Skovgaard K, Heegaard PMH, Fang Y, Kharaz YA, Bundgaard L, Skovgaard LT, Jensen HE, Andersen PH, Peffers MJ, Jacobsen S. (2025). Identification and characterisation of temporal abundance of microRNAs in synovial fluid from an experimental equine model of osteoarthritis. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14456

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Walters, Marie
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
Skovgaard, Kerstin
  • Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
Heegaard, Peter M H
  • Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
Fang, Yongxiang
  • Centre for Genomic Research, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Kharaz, Yalda A
  • Department of Musculoskeletal Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Bundgaard, Louise
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
  • Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
Skovgaard, Lene T
  • Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
Jensen, Henrik E
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Andersen, Pia H
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Peffers, Mandy J
  • Department of Musculoskeletal Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Jacobsen, Stine
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.

Grant Funding

  • DFF-7017-00066 / Independent Research Fund Denmark, Technology and Production Sciences
  • Horse Levy Foundation
  • Gerda and Aage Haensch's Foundation
  • Lu00e6gefonden-AP Mu00f8ller Foundation
  • Kuustos Foundation
  • Toosbuys Foundation
  • University of Copenhagen
  • Technical University of Denmark
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Science
  • 107u2009471/Z/15/Z / Wellcome Trust Clinical Intermediate Fellowship
  • Versus Arthritis

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Castanheira CIGD, Taylor S, Skiöldebrand E, Rubio-Martinez LM, Hackl M, Clegg PD, Peffers MJ. Synovial Fluid and Serum MicroRNA Signatures in Equine Osteoarthritis. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Nov 19;26(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms262211190pubmed: 41303673google scholar: lookup
  2. Chabronova A, Walters M, Regårdh S, Jacobsen S, Bundgaard L, Anderson JR, Peffers MJ. Exploring the roles of snoRNA-induced ribosome heterogeneity in equine osteoarthritis. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1562508.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1562508pubmed: 40709001google scholar: lookup
  3. Peters H, Rockel JS, Little CB, Kapoor M. Synovial fluid as a complex molecular pool contributing to knee osteoarthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2025 Aug;21(8):447-464.
    doi: 10.1038/s41584-025-01271-4pubmed: 40624394google scholar: lookup
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