title: Calcitonin attenuates cartilage degeneration and nociception in an experimental rat model of osteoarthritis: role of TGF-β in chondrocytes.
abstract: We investigated the role of the calcitonin (Miacalcin) in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and in nociceptive behavior in an experimental rat model of OA and osteoporosis. OA was induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) of the right knee and by bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) in Wistar rats. Nociceptive behaviors (secondary mechanical allodynia and weight-bearing distribution of the hind paws) were analyzed prior to surgery and every week, beginning at 12 weeks after surgery, up to 20 weeks. At 20 weeks, histopathological studies were performed on the cartilage of the knee joints. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to examine the effect of calcitonin on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expression in articular cartilage chondrocytes. Rats subjected to ACLT + OVX surgery showed obvious OA changes in the joints. Animals subjected to ACLT + OVX and treated with calcitonin showed significantly less cartilage degeneration and improved nociceptive tests compared with animals subjected to ACLT + OVX surgeries alone. Moreover, calcitonin increased TGF-β1 expression in chondrocytes in ACLT + OVX-affected cartilage. Subcutaneous injection of calcitonin (1) attenuated the development of OA, (2) concomitantly reduced nociception, and (3) modulated chondrocyte metabolism, possibly by increasing cellular TGF-β1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biotechnology &Resources, and Center for Translational Biopharmaceuticals, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Childhood Education, National Pintung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biotechnology &Resources, and Center for Translational Biopharmaceuticals, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biotechnology &Resources, and Center for Translational Biopharmaceuticals, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shi-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biotechnology &Resources, and Center for Translational Biopharmaceuticals, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-You
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Section of Pathology, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Peng
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Section of Pathology, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.|Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Pai
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Section of Pathology, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.|Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sung-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.|Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wu-Fu
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Hsuan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jean
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D059225:Nociception; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C028815:salmon calcitonin; D002116:Calcitonin