title: The effects of carboxymethylated chitosan on metalloproteinase-1, -3 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 gene expression in cartilage of experimental osteoarthritis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intra-articular injection of carboxymethylated chitosan (CMCTS) on mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3 (MMP-1, -3) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in cartilage of osteoarthritis (OA). 32 white rabbits underwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) and were randomly divided into four groups 5 weeks after transection. Rabbits of group A received 0.3 ml intra-articular injection of 2% high molecular weight CMCTS, once 2 weeks. Rabbits in group B were treated under the same condition using 2% CMCTS with low molecular weight. Group C rabbits received 0.3 ml of intra-articular 1% sodium hyaluronate (HA) injection, once a week. Animals of group D were not injected as controls after ACLT. At death, 11 weeks following surgery, the mRNA expressions of MMP-1, MMP-3 and TIMP-1 of degenerative cartilage were analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The mRNA levels of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in cartilage of CMCTS injection groups were significantly lower than those of HA-treated group and untreated group. There was no significant difference in MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression between the different molecular weight CMCTS injection groups. No significant difference in MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression in cartilage was found between HA injection group and control group. No significant difference in TIMP-1 expression was observed in cartilages of any group. CMCTS may significantly suppress the mRNA expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in cartilage during the early stages of OA. CMCTS may have a protective effect on articular cartilage of OA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060 Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. qb19712003@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Shi-Qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Ling-Yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yu-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D048271:Chitosan; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1