Cyclodextrin polysulphate protects articular cartilage in experimental lapine knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the in vivo chondroprotective effect of cyclodextrin polysulphate (CDPS) in a rabbit model of experimental osteoarthritis (OA).


METHODS
Experimental OA was induced in rabbits by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Forty-eight hours post-surgery, the rabbits were randomised into three treatment groups (n=15 in each group) and a sham-operated control group. The rabbits were either injected subcutaneously with saline, 0.25 mg/kg CDPS or 1 mg/kg CDPS once a week for a period of 12 weeks, and their weight was monitored as a parameter for their general status. The animals were then sacrificed for macroscopic and histological assessment of the knee joints.


RESULTS
At the lowest dose, CDPS treatment was unable to induce a significant improvement of cartilage degradation vs the saline control in the experimentally induced knee OA. However, subcutaneous injections of 1 mg/kg CDPS induced a marked inhibition (P<0.05) of osteophyte formation. Additionally, a significant reduction of cartilage degradation revealed an overall chondroprotective effect of CDPS at a concentration of 1 mg/kg. No significant effects on weight gain were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Systemic administration of CDPS is able to protect cartilage in vivo and can therefore be considered as a chondroprotective agent with structure modifying capacities.
Groeneboer
S
S
Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
Pastoureau
P
P
Vignon
E
E
Vander Cruyssen
B
B
Elewaut
D
D
Verbruggen
G
G
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee; D011817:Rabbits; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003505:Cyclodextrins