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Equine veterinary journal2024; doi: 10.1111/evj.14203

Single injection of intra-articular autologous protein solution in horses with acute interleukin-1B-induced synovitis decreases joint pathology scores.

Abstract: Autologous protein solution (APS) has been shown to decrease lameness in horses with osteoarthritis (OA). Synovitis is an early driver of OA, providing an opportunity to intervene in the progression of disease via intra-articular (IA) therapeutics. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a single IA APS injection in horses with interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced synovitis. We hypothesised that APS would decrease joint swelling and lameness, improve synovial fluid parameters and improve joint pathology scores in horses compared with untreated controls. Methods: Randomised controlled in vivo experiment. Methods: Synovitis was induced with IL-1β (65 ng) in one randomly selected tarsocrural joint. Twenty-four hours later, joints were treated with APS (Pro-Stride®) (n = 12) or left as untreated controls (n = 6). Lameness examinations and joint circumference measurements were performed on Days 0 (prior to IL-1β), 1 (prior to APS), 2, 4, 7 and 14. Synovial fluid, obtained on the same days, was analysed for protein concentration, nucleated cell count, and cytokine (IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations. Gross pathology and synovial membrane histopathology scoring was performed on APS-treated (n = 5), untreated control (n = 4) and normal (n = 9) tarsocrural joints. Results: APS did not decrease lameness or joint circumference compared with untreated controls. Synovial fluid parameters were not different between treatment groups. APS treatment did significantly decrease gross and histopathology scores. Conclusions: Main limitations included the use of an induced model of the synovitis, inter-horse variability in the response to IL-1β and likely variability in the constituents of APS from individual horses. Conclusions: APS treatment of tarsocrural joints with synovitis did not significantly improve lameness or alter synovial fluid parameters. APS did lead to significant improvement in gross joint appearance and synovial membrane histology suggesting that APS may have disease-modifying effects.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-07-25 PubMed ID: 39051479DOI: 10.1111/evj.14203Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 investigates the impact of an autologous protein solution (APS) injection on horses suffering from synovitis, an early indicator of osteoarthritis. It was observed that while APS did not significantly reduce lameness or alter synovial fluid parameters, it did considerably improve joint appearance and synovial membrane histology.

Objective and Hypothesis of the Study

  • The objective of this research was to study the effects of a single intra-articular APS injection on horses with synovitis, induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β).
  • The expectation was that APS would reduce joint swelling and lameness, enhance synovial fluid parameters, and improve joint pathology scores in horses when compared with those untreated.

Research Methodology

  • Synovitis was induced with IL-1β (65 ng) in one randomly selected tarsocrural joint.
  • After 24 hours, the inflamed joints were treated with APS (Pro-Stride®) (n = 12), or left as untreated controls (n = 6).
  • Progress was tracked until Day 14 by performing lameness assessments, measuring joint circumference, and analyzing synovial fluid for protein concentration, nucleated cell count, cytokine and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations.
  • Gross pathology and synovial membrane histopathology scoring was performed on APS-treated, untreated control and normal tarsocrural joints.

Outcomes of the Study

  • APS did not significantly decrease lameness or joint circumference compared with untreated controls.
  • There was no significant difference observed in synovial fluid parameters between the two treatment groups.
  • A significant decrease was noted in gross and histopathology scores following APS treatment.
  • The primary limitations of the study included the utilization of induced synovitis model, variability in horse’s response to IL-1β and potentially varying constituents of APS from individual horses.
  • While APS treatment did not amplify lameness improvement or modify synovial fluid parameters, the treatment did lead to significant improvements in the gross appearance of the joint and synovial membrane histology.

Conclusion

  • The study suggests that although APS injection did not significantly reduce lameness or alter synovial fluid parameters, it did improve joint appearance and synovial membrane histology.
  • Thus, APS could potentially have disease-modifying effects and might be utilized as a therapeutic intervention in early-stage osteoarthritis.

Cite This Article

APA
Usimaki A, Ciamillo SA, Barot D, Linardi RL, Engiles JB, Ortved KF. (2024). Single injection of intra-articular autologous protein solution in horses with acute interleukin-1B-induced synovitis decreases joint pathology scores. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14203

Publication

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

Researcher Affiliations

Usimaki, Alexandra
  • Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Ciamillo, Sarah A
  • Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Barot, Dhvani
  • Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Linardi, Renata L
  • Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Engiles, Julie B
  • Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Ortved, Kyla F
  • Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.

Grant Funding

  • Zoetis

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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  3. Carmona JU, López C. Platelet-Rich Plasma in Equine Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Experimental Evidence. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 9;15(18).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15182647pubmed: 41007891google scholar: lookup
  4. Woodell-May J, Steckbeck K, King W, Miller K, Han B, Vedi V, Kon E. Mechanistic Insights and Real-World Evidence of Autologous Protein Solution (APS) in Clinical Use. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Aug 5;26(15).
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