title: Efficacy of intra-articular injection of celecoxib in a rabbit model of osteoarthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is a slowly progressive joint disease typically seen in middle-age to elderly people. Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid is a well-documented treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Celebrex(®) (celecoxib) is a novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which could help to reduce inflammation and to reduce pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of intra-articular injection of celecoxib in a rabbit osteoarthritis model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty New Zealand white rabbits underwent unilateral knee joint surgery using the Hulth technique. Six weeks post-surgery, the animals were randomly divided into three groups, and each group was respectively given weekly intra-articular injections with Celebrex(®), hyaluronic acid and saline. On the sixth week, the results were assessed in rabbit models by gross observation, histological evaluation, and expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, MMP-3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group given Celebrex(®) and hyaluronic acid, the pathological changes in the rabbit articular cartilage improved significantly, much more than in the saline group. The statistically significant suppression of IL-1β, TNF-α, MMP-3 was shown in the Celebrex group. No significant differences were detected between two treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-articular injection of celecoxib is beneficial for knee osteoarthritis. It might repair and protect early osteoarthritis cartilage by delaying cartilage degeneration and impairing the function of inflammatory mediators, therefore, intra-articular injection of celecoxib can be used as an alternative to the current treatment of osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi St., Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China; E-Mails: zoujun105@126.com (D.H.J.); jzou@suda.edu.cn (J.Z.); qshisz@gmail.com (Q.S.); zhuxs@126.com (X.S.Z.); wglpaper@126.com (G.L.W.); hlyang@suda.edu.cn (H.L.Y.).
authors.forename: Dinghua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Xuesong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Genlin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Huilin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000068579:Celecoxib; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D000068579:Celecoxib