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Osteoarthritis and cartilage2015; 24(3); 555-566; doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2015.10.008

Osteoclasts are recruited to the subchondral bone in naturally occurring post-traumatic equine carpal osteoarthritis and may contribute to cartilage degradation.

Abstract: The role of osteoclasts in osteochondral degeneration in osteoarthritis (OA) has rarely been investigated in spontaneous disease or animal models of OA. Objective: The objectives of the current study were to investigate osteoclast density and location in post-traumatic OA (PTOA) and control specimens from racehorses. Methods: Cores were harvested from a site in the equine third carpal bone, that undergoes repetitive, high intensity loading. Histological and immunohistochemical (Cathepsin K and Receptor-activator of Nuclear Factor kappa-β ligand (RANKL)) stained sections were scored (global and subregional) and the osteoclast density calculated. The cartilage histological scores were compared with osteoclast density and RANKL scores. Results: There was a greater density of osteoclasts in PTOA samples and they were preferentially located in the subchondral bone plate. RANKL scores positively correlated to the scores of cartilage degeneration and the osteoclast density. The relationship between hyaline articular cartilage RANKL score and osteoclast density was stronger than that of the subchondral bone RANKL score suggesting that cartilage RANKL may have a role in recruiting osteoclasts. The RANKL score in the articular calcified cartilage correlated with the number of microcracks also suggesting that osteoclasts recruited by RANKL may contribute to calcified cartilage degeneration in PTOA. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that osteoclasts are recruited during the progression of spontaneous equine carpal PTOA by cartilage RANKL, contributing to calcified cartilage microcracks and focal subchondral bone loss.
Copyright © 2015 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2015-10-24 PubMed ID: 26505663DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2015.10.008Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 role of specialized bone cells, called osteoclasts, in the degeneration of tissues in a type of arthritis in horses caused by excessive wear and tear (post-traumatic osteoarthritis or PTOA). The findings suggest that these cells migrate to a specific area of the bone under the joint cartilage, contributing to its degradation. The activation of these osteoclasts is potentially driven by a specific signaling molecule, RANKL, found in the cartilage.

Background and Objective

  • The article explores the role of osteoclasts, a type of cell responsible for bone resorption and remodelling, in PTOA, a common condition in racehorses characterized by joint disease following trauma.
  • Previous research on osteoclasts’ involvement in OA has been sparse, hence this study aims to identify how the density and location of osteoclasts affect the cartilage’s condition in PTOA.

Methods

  • The researchers derived samples from the third carpal bone of racehorses, an area undergoing regular, high intensity strain. Samples were then divided into PTOA and control specimens.
  • These samples were then stained with specific substances to identify osteoclasts and RANKL, a signalling molecule associated with osteoclast activation and differentiation. Histological scoring was used to evaluate the results.

Results

  • Findings showed that there were more osteoclasts in PTOA samples compared to control specimens. These osteoclasts were concentrated primarily in the bone beneath the joint cartilage (subchondral bone).
  • RANKL scores, indicating the presence of the signalling molecule, were linked with cartilage degradation and more dense osteoclast populations.
  • The relationship between cartilage RANKL score and osteoclast density was more potent than the corresponding relationship in the subchondral bone, suggesting that cartilage RANKL might be responsible for attracting osteoclasts.
  • The number of small fractures in the bone lining under the cartilage also correlated with the RANKL score, indicating that the recruited osteoclasts might contribute to the degradation of this calcified cartilage in PTOA.

Conclusions

  • The study provides evidence supporting the theory that osteoclasts are attracted during the progression of PTOA in the bone under the cartilage (the subchondral bone). This migration, potentially instigated by RANKL present in the cartilage, may contribute to the formation of small fractures in the calcified cartilage and localized bone loss in PTOA.

Cite This Article

APA
Bertuglia A, Lacourt M, Girard C, Beauchamp G, Richard H, Laverty S. (2015). Osteoclasts are recruited to the subchondral bone in naturally occurring post-traumatic equine carpal osteoarthritis and may contribute to cartilage degradation. Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 24(3), 555-566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2015.10.008

Publication

Osteoarthritis and cartilage
ISSN: 1522-9653
NlmUniqueID: 9305697
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 24
Issue: 3
Pages: 555-566
PII: S1063-4584(15)01361-8

Researcher Affiliations

Bertuglia, A
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de sciences cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada. Electronic address: andrea.bertuglia@unito.it.
Lacourt, M
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de sciences cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada.
Girard, C
  • Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie Vétérinaires, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada.
Beauchamp, G
  • Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie Vétérinaires, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada.
Richard, H
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de sciences cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada.
Laverty, S
  • Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Département de sciences cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada. Electronic address: sheila.laverty@umontreal.ca.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Calcinosis / metabolism
  • Calcinosis / pathology
  • Carpal Bones / metabolism
  • Carpal Bones / pathology
  • Carpal Joints / injuries
  • Carpal Joints / pathology
  • Cartilage Diseases / etiology
  • Cartilage Diseases / metabolism
  • Cartilage Diseases / pathology
  • Cartilage Diseases / veterinary
  • Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
  • Cartilage, Articular / pathology
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Osteoarthritis / etiology
  • Osteoarthritis / metabolism
  • Osteoarthritis / pathology
  • Osteoarthritis / veterinary
  • Osteoclasts / pathology
  • Osteoclasts / physiology
  • RANK Ligand / metabolism
  • RANK Ligand / physiology

Citations

This article has been cited 40 times.
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