Synovial Fluid Metabolome Can Differentiate between Healthy Joints and Joints Affected by Osteoarthritis in Horses.
Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of lameness in sport horses with a significant economic impact. The prevention of OA is crucial since no effective treatment is available. This study aimed to apply untargeted metabolomic analysis to investigate the differences in synovial fluid (SF) composition between healthy and OA-affected joints in horses. SF collected from healthy (n.8) and OA (n.11) horses was analyzed using H-NMR analysis. Metabolomic analysis allowed 55 different metabolites to be identified and quantified in SF samples. Nineteen metabolites were found to be differently concentrated in OA compared to control horses. Synovial fluids from the OC group were found to be higher in 1,3-dihydroxyacetone but lower in tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, uridine, creatinine, creatine, glycine, choline, asparagine, glutamine, arginine, 3-hydroxybutyrate, valine, 2-hydroxyisovalerate, α-ketoisovaleric acid, 3-methyl-2-oxovalerate, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, isoleucine, and methionine compared to the controls. A variety of SF metabolites significantly changed following joint disease, demonstrating the complex mechanism underlying osteoarthritis in horses and highlighting the value of applying the metabolomic approach in clinical research.
Publication Date: 2023-08-04 PubMed ID: 37623857PubMed Central: PMC10456394DOI: 10.3390/metabo13080913Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article reveals the differences in synovial fluid (liquid that lubricates joints) compositions in healthy horses versus those affected by Osteoarthritis (OA), a common cause of lameness, using untargeted metabolomic analysis.
Methodology
- The study involved the collection and analysis of synovial fluid samples from 8 horses without OA and 11 horses with OA.
- The analysis involved the usage of a technique called H-NMR (Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy, which is capable of identifying and quantifying numerous metabolites in the synovial fluid.
- A total of 55 different metabolites were identified in the study.
Key Findings
- The analysis revealed that there were significant differences in the concentration of 19 different metabolites between the OA horses and the control horses.
- Notably, synovial fluid from the OA-affected horses had higher levels of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, a metabolite involved in energy metabolism.
- However, the same OA-affected horses had lower levels of a variety of other metabolites, including several amino acids like tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine, as well as other metabolites involved in energy metabolism like creatinine, creatine, and 3-hydroxybutyrate.
Implications
- The study showcases the metabolomic approach’s value in clinical research, particularly in understanding the changes in synovial fluid composition related to joint diseases like osteoarthritis.
- These changes in metabolite levels might reflect the changes in metabolic processes occurring in OA-affected joints versus healthy joints, offering insights into the complex mechanism underlying horse osteoarthritis.
- The marked differences in metabolite concentrations between OA and non-OA horses might provide markers for early detection or progression of osteoarthritis, aiding in timely and effective prevention strategies, given the lack of effective treatments for OA.
Cite This Article
APA
Laus F, Gialletti R, Bazzano M, Laghi L, Dini F, Marchegiani A.
(2023).
Synovial Fluid Metabolome Can Differentiate between Healthy Joints and Joints Affected by Osteoarthritis in Horses.
Metabolites, 13(8), 913.
https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13080913 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024 Macerata, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024 Macerata, Italy.
- Centre of Foodomics, Department of Agro-Food Science and Technology, University of Bologna, 40100 Bologna, Italy.
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024 Macerata, Italy.
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024 Macerata, Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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