Nitrite and nitrotyrosine concentrations in articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and trabecular bone of normal juvenile, normal adult, and osteoarthritic adult equine metacarpophalangeal joints.
Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic debilitating joint disorder in which the importance of inflammation is increasingly recognized. In advanced cases, both the articular cartilage and the underlying bony layers are affected, but the exact sequence of events and their localization in the initial phase of pathogenesis remain uncertain. We measured nitric oxide (NO) end products in tissue layers that constitute the bearing surface of the joint, as possible indicators of physiological and pathological processes. Methods: Nitrite as a measure for NO and nitrotyrosine was measured in articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and the underlying trabecular bone of the proximal articular surface of the first phalanx of healthy mature horses (n = 15; age range 5-18 yrs), mature horses affected by OA (n = 15; age range 8-22 yrs), and unaffected juvenile horses (n = 13; age range 6 months-4 yrs). Data were correlated with cartilage damage, as quantified by the Cartilage Degeneration Index. Results: In all 3 layers the nitrite concentration was higher in OA joints (cartilage, p < 0.001; subchondral and trabecular bone, p < 0.05). The concentration of nitrite was significantly higher in cartilage and subchondral bone of juvenile horses compared with mature horses (p < 0.001). Nitrotyrosine concentrations were significantly higher in subchondral bone of OA horses compared with healthy controls (p < 0.001), but significantly lower in trabecular bone of juvenile horses (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The similarities observed over the 3 tissue layers support the concept of the bearing surface of the joint as a functional entity. Nitrite concentration seems to be a good indicator of tissue metabolic activity, but cannot discriminate between physiological (juvenile animals) and pathological (OA cases) processes. The increased nitrotyrosine levels in subchondral bone of OA-affected animals suggest that this layer is important in early or moderate OA, and implies a role of oxidative stress in the development of the disease.
Publication Date: 2006-08-02 PubMed ID: 16881122
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research paper studies nitrite and nitrotyrosine concentrations in different parts of the equine metacarpophalangeal joints. The study found higher levels of these substances in horses suffering from osteoarthritis compared to healthy adult and juvenile horses. However, nitrite concentration cannot distinguish between normal and pathological conditions. Increased nitrotyrosine levels in the subchondral bone are suggestive of early or moderate osteoarthritis, indicating a role of oxidative stress in disease progression.
Research Methods and Sample Groups
- The research involved the study of nitric oxide (NO) end products in different tissue layers of equine joint, specifically in articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and the underlying trabecular bone. These elements constitute the bearing surface of the joint, providing an essential framework for the study.
- Nitrite, as a proxy for NO, and nitrotyrosine were measured in the joint tissue of three distinct groups of horses – 15 healthy mature horses aged 5-18 years, 15 mature horses suffering from osteoarthritis aged 8-22 years, and 13 juvenile horses aged 6 months-4 years with no joint issues.
- An examination of the extent of cartilage damage was carried out using the Cartilage Degeneration Index, and the data obtained was correlated with the nitrite and nitrotyrosine measurements.
Results and Findings
- Across all the three tissue layers under examination, osteoarthritic joints showed a higher concentration of nitrite compared to the joints of healthy horses. This was statistically significant for the articular cartilage and both subchondral and trabecular bone.
- Nitrite concentration was significantly higher in the cartilage and subchondral bone of juvenile horses than in mature horses, regardless of health status.
- Nitrotyrosine levels were significantly higher in the subchondral bone of horses affected by osteoarthritis compared to healthy controls. In contrast, these concentrations were significantly lower in the trabecular bone of young horses.
Conclusions and Implications
- The results demonstrate a similarity in nitrite and nitrotyrosine concentrations across the three tissue layers, supporting the idea of the joint’s bearing surface as a functional entity.
- While nitrite concentration appears to correspond to tissue metabolic activity, it does not differentiate between physiological processes in young animals and pathological processes in osteoarthritic animals.
- The increased concentration of nitrotyrosine in the subchondral bone of osteoarthritic horses indicates the potential for early or moderate osteoarthritis. It implies the role of oxidative stress in the disease’s development.
Cite This Article
APA
van der Harst M, Bull S, Brama PA, Barneveld AB, van Weeren PR, van de Lest C.
(2006).
Nitrite and nitrotyrosine concentrations in articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and trabecular bone of normal juvenile, normal adult, and osteoarthritic adult equine metacarpophalangeal joints.
J Rheumatol, 33(8), 1662-1667.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. markvanderharst@hetnet.nl
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone and Bones / chemistry
- Bone and Bones / metabolism
- Cartilage, Articular / chemistry
- Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
- Cartilage, Articular / pathology
- Horses
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint / chemistry
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint / metabolism
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint / pathology
- Nitrites / analysis
- Nitrites / metabolism
- Osteoarthritis, Knee / metabolism
- Osteoarthritis, Knee / pathology
- Osteoarthritis, Knee / veterinary
- Tyrosine / analogs & derivatives
- Tyrosine / analysis
- Tyrosine / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Schmal H, Bernstein A, Feucht MJ, Erdle B, Pestka JM, Pham TM, Kubosch EJ. Prospective Clinical Trial for Septic Arthritis: Cartilage Degradation and Inflammation Are Associated with Upregulation of Cartilage Metabolites. Mediators Inflamm 2016;2016:5491971.
- Peelukhana SV, Goenka S, Kim B, Kim J, Bhattacharya A, Stringer KF, Banerjee RK. Effect of higher frequency components and duration of vibration on bone tissue alterations in the rat-tail model. Ind Health 2015;53(3):245-59.
- Cillero-Pastor B, Martin MA, Arenas J, López-Armada MJ, Blanco FJ. Effect of nitric oxide on mitochondrial activity of human synovial cells. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2011 Feb 8;12:42.
- Scher JU, Pillinger MH, Abramson SB. Nitric oxide synthases and osteoarthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2007 Apr;9(1):9-15.
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