Investigation of synovial fluid lubricants and inflammatory cytokines in the horse: a comparison of recombinant equine interleukin 1 beta-induced synovitis and joint lavage models.
Abstract: Lameness is a debilitating condition in equine athletes that leads to more performance limitation and loss of use than any other medical condition. There are a limited number of non-terminal experimental models that can be used to study early inflammatory and synovial fluid biophysical changes that occur in the equine joint. Here, we compare the well-established carpal IL-1β-induced synovitis model to a tarsal intra-articular lavage model, focusing on serial changes in synovial fluid inflammatory cytokines/chemokines and the synovial fluid lubricating molecules lubricin/proteoglycan 4 and hyaluronic acid. The objectives of this study were to evaluate clinical signs; synovial membrane and synovial fluid inflammation; and synovial fluid lubricants and biophysical properties in response to carpal IL-1β synovitis and tarsal intra-articular lavage. Results: Hyaluronic acid (HA) concentrations, especially high molecular weight HA, and synovial fluid viscosity decreased after both synovitis and lavage interventions. Synovial fluid lubricin concentrations increased 17-20-fold for both synovitis and lavage models, with similar changes in both affected and contralateral joints, suggesting that repeated arthrocentesis alone resulted in elevated synovial fluid lubricin concentrations. Synovitis resulted in a more severe inflammatory response based on clinical signs (temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, lameness and joint effusion) and clinicopathological and biochemical parameters (white blood cell count, total protein, prostaglandin E, sulfated glycosaminoglycans, tumor necrosis factor-α and CC chemokine ligands - 2, - 3, - 5 and - 11) as compared to lavage. Conclusions: Synovial fluid lubricin increased in response to IL-1β synovitis and joint lavage but also as a result of repeated arthrocentesis. Frequent repeated arthrocentesis is associated with inflammatory changes, including increased sulfated glycosaminoglycan concentrations and decreased hyaluronic acid concentrations. Synovitis results in more significant inflammatory changes than joint lavage. Our data suggests that synovial fluid lubricin, TNF-α, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CCL11 and sGAG may be useful biomarkers for synovitis and post-lavage joint inflammation. Caution should be exercised when performing repeated arthrocentesis clinically or in experimental studies due to the inflammatory response and loss of HA and synovial fluid viscosity.
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The study examined the changes in horse joint lubricants and inflammatory compounds during inflammation, comparing two experimental models: the carpal IL-1β-induced synovitis model and the tarsal intra-articular lavage model. The researchers found that both methods significantly affected the concentration of lubricating molecules and caused an inflammatory response, but the synovitis model resulted in a more severe response.
Study Overview
This research study was conducted on equine athletes to understand the early inflammatory changes in horse joints and the impact on the synovial fluid and its lubricating properties.
The researchers compared two models – the carpal IL-1β-induced synovitis model and the tarsal intra-articular lavage model, to draw parallels, if any, between their responses.
Objectives and Outcomes
The primary objectives were to evaluate the clinical symptoms, inflammation in the synovial membrane and fluid, and changes in the lubricating properties of the synovial fluid in the equine subjects.
The study found that both models experienced a decrease in high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) and synovial fluid viscosity.
However, the concentrations of synovial fluid lubricin, a critical lubricating molecule, increased 17-20-fold across both models.
More severe inflammatory response and clinical signs such as temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and lameness were observed in the synovitis model compared to the lavage model.
Significance of the Study
The findings suggest that both IL-1β synovitis and joint lavage have a significant impact on the lubricating properties of the synovial fluid, leading to an inflammatory response. However, the severity was more pronounced with synovitis.
The increase in lubricin levels following frequent arthrocentesis, a clinical procedure where the joint cavity is punctured to aspirate fluid, suggests that it may cause inflammatory changes.
Identified biomarkers such as TNF-α, CCL- (2, 3, 5, and 11), and sGAG could potentially be used in diagnosing joint inflammation following synovitis or post-lavage.
The study advises caution when performing repeated arthrocentesis as it seems to result in inflammatory responses and loss of HA and synovial fluid viscosity.
Cite This Article
APA
Watkins A, Fasanello D, Stefanovski D, Schurer S, Caracappa K, D'Agostino A, Costello E, Freer H, Rollins A, Read C, Su J, Colville M, Paszek M, Wagner B, Reesink H.
(2021).
Investigation of synovial fluid lubricants and inflammatory cytokines in the horse: a comparison of recombinant equine interleukin 1 beta-induced synovitis and joint lavage models.
BMC Vet Res, 17(1), 189.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02873-2
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