Characterization of synovial fluid cytokine profiles in chronic meniscal tear of the knee.
Concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in synovial fluid samples collected from patients with chronic meniscal tears were investigated. An acute inflammatory response is generally reported 24-48 h after knee injury, but the largest body of data available in literature concerns anterior cruciate ligament injury and very little information is available about the balance of soluble factors in the synovial fluid of knees with chronic meniscal tears. Sixty-nine patients (46 males and 23 females) with meniscal tear that occurred more than 3 months earlier were enrolled. According to cartilage integrity assessment by arthroscopic examination, patients were assigned to one of the following groups: (i) no chondral damage (n = 18); (ii) chondral damage graded from I to II (n = 15); and (iii) chondral damage graded from III to IV (n = 37). In all groups, levels of IL-10 and inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8 where greater compared with those reported in the intact population; by contrast, levels of IL-1ra and IL-1β were significantly lower. Interestingly, IL-6 levels were higher in female than male patients. Cytokine levels did not correlate with degree of chondral damage. IL-6 and IL-1ra levels positively correlated with IL-1β, and negatively correlated with TNF-α. Interestingly, levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were inversely correlated. Our data demonstrate increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in the chronic phase of meniscal trauma. This pro-inflammatory state is maintained in the joint from the time of initial injury to several months later and could be a key factor in hampering cartilage regeneration. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:340-346, 2017.
Department of Orthopedic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.|Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Marco
M
Bigoni
Department of Orthopedic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Marco
M
Turati
Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Paola
P
Sacerdote
Department of Orthopedic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Diego
D
Gaddi
Department of Orthopedic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Massimiliano
M
Piatti
Department of Orthopedic, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Alberto
A
Castelnuovo
Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Silvia
S
Franchi
Politecnico di Milano, NearLab, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Milan, Italy.
Marta
M
Gandolla
Politecnico di Milano, NearLab, Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Milan, Italy.
Alessandra
A
Pedrocchi
Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada.
Robert J
RJ
Omeljaniuk
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Elena
E
Bresciani
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Vittorio
V
Locatelli
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Antonio
A
Torsello
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines
cytokines; knee; meniscal tear; osteoarthritis; synovial fluid