Osteochondral injury increases type II collagen degradation products (C2C) in synovial fluid of Thoroughbred racehorses.
Abstract: To investigate the effects of exercise and osteochondral (OC) injury on type II collagen degradation products (collagenase cleavage neoepitope commercially known as C2C) in synovial fluid (SF) from Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses and to compare these results with radiographic and arthroscopic scores of severity of joint injury. Methods: Metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) and carpal SF was obtained from (1) 20 normal rested horses, (2) the same horses after 5 to 6 months of race training, and (3) 27 horses with OC injury from racing. For group 3, radiographic and arthroscopic scores were determined. Concentrations of SF C2C were determined by ELISA. Results: SF C2C concentrations in OC injured carpal and MCP/MTP joints were significantly different than rested and exercised joints (P<0.01). However, carpal and MCP/MTP SF C2C concentrations were not significantly different between rested and exercised groups. Arthroscopic scores were significantly higher for OC injured carpal than OC injured MCP/MTP joints (P=0.002). OC injured SF C2C concentrations were positively correlated with radiographic and arthroscopic scores. Arthroscopic scores were positively correlated with radiographic scores. SF C2C concentrations >or= 64 pmol/mL for MCP/MTP joints and >or= 75 pmol/mL for carpal joints discriminated OC injured joints from rested or exercised joints. Conclusions: OC injury caused a significant increase in SF C2C concentrations in carpal and MCP/MTP joints compared to rested and exercised horses. SF C2C concentrations were correlated to severity of joint injury. Based on these findings, SF C2C analysis may be useful for evaluation of joint injury.
Publication Date: 2008-09-16 PubMed ID: 18799328DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2008.07.014Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the impact of exercise and osteochondral injury on the level of type II collagen degradation products in the synovial fluid of Thoroughbred racehorses. The study finds that such injuries cause a significant increase in these degradation products, which correlates to the severity of the joint injury.
Method of the Study
- The study collected synovial fluid from metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) and carpal joints of three groups of Thoroughbred racehorses.
- The first group included 20 normal rested horses. The same horses, after 5-6 months of race training, formed the second group. The third group consisted of 27 horses with osteochondral injury resulting from racing.
- In the case of the third group, the researchers also determined radiographic and arthroscopic scores to gauge the severity of joint injury.
- The concentration of type II collagen degradation products, known as C2C, in the synovial fluid were determined using the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method.
Results of the Study
- The study found that the concentration of C2C in the synovial fluid from osteochondral injured carpal and MCP/MTP joints differed significantly when compared to rested and exercised joints, implying that osteochondral injury increased C2C levels.
- However, there was no significant difference in C2C levels between rested and exercised horses, indicating that exercise alone does not notably affect C2C levels.
- Arthroscopic scores, which represent the physical evaluation of the joint, were significantly higher for osteochondral injured carpal joints than osteochondral injured MCP/MTP joints.
- Notably, the levels of C2C in the synovial fluid of the horses correlated positively with radiographic (x-ray) and arthroscopic scores, thus suggesting a link between higher C2C levels and greater joint injury.
Conclusions and Implications
- The research concludes that an osteochondral injury significantly increases the concentration of C2C in the synovial fluid of horse’s carpal and MCP/MTP joints.
- The concentrations of C2C were found to be aligned with the severity of the joint injury, underscoring the role of this biomarker in indicating joint damages.
- The study findings suggest that analyzing synovial fluid C2C concentrations might be a useful approach in evaluating the severity of joint injuries in racehorses.
Cite This Article
APA
Trumble TN, Scarbrough AB, Brown MP.
(2008).
Osteochondral injury increases type II collagen degradation products (C2C) in synovial fluid of Thoroughbred racehorses.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 17(3), 371-374.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2008.07.014 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy
- Biomarkers / analysis
- Carpus, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Carpus, Animal / injuries
- Cartilage, Articular / injuries
- Collagen Type II / analysis
- Collagen Type II / metabolism
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Epitopes / analysis
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horses / injuries
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Radiography
- Severity of Illness Index
- Synovial Fluid / chemistry
- Tarsal Joints / diagnostic imaging
- Tarsal Joints / injuries
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Martinez RE, Leatherwood JL, Arnold CE, Glass KG, Walter KW, Valigura HC, Norton SA, White-Springer SH. Responses to an intra-articular lipopolysaccharide challenge following dietary supplementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product in young horses. J Anim Sci 2021 Oct 1;99(10).
- Yarmola EG, Shah Y, Arnold DP, Dobson J, Allen KD. Magnetic Capture of a Molecular Biomarker from Synovial Fluid in a Rat Model of Knee Osteoarthritis. Ann Biomed Eng 2016 Apr;44(4):1159-69.
- Moore GE, Leatherwood JL, Glass KG, Arnold CE, Paris BL, Carter MM, George JM, Fontenot AB, Martinez RE, Franklin MA, Norton SA, Bradbery AN, Wickersham TA. Influence of dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product on markers of inflammation and cartilage metabolism in young exercising horses challenged with intra-articular lipopolysaccharide. Transl Anim Sci 2025;9:txaf042.
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