title: An in vivo cross-linkable hyaluronan gel with inherent anti-inflammatory properties reduces OA cartilage destruction in female mice subjected to cruciate ligament transection.
abstract: To explore the possibility of cartilage protection in osteoarthritis (OA) by intraarticular injection of a chemically modified hyaluronan (HA) gel and investigate whether the chemical modifications provide intrinsic anti-inflammatory activity.
  
  
  
  OA was induced in C57BL/6 mice by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) and HA gel or carbazate-modified component was injected intra-articularly. Assessment of cartilage rescue was performed by histology, immunohistochemistry and TUNEL analysis. Serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated with cytometric bead array, measuring IL-1β, TNF, IFN-γ, KC/CXCL1 and MCP-1.
  
  
  
  Intraarticular injection of the HA gel showed significantly reduced cartilage destruction and decreased osteophyte formation. Besides the biological and biomechanical effects of HA, we investigated lipid peroxidation products as an alternative inflammatory and potential mechanism contributing to OA. To address this, injection of the carbazate-modified component alone was performed, which also demonstrated a cartilage-saving effect. Besides the cartilage amelioration effects, decreased apoptosis, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and MHC class II staining was recorded. No changes in serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines were detected.
  
  
  
  We have shown that the HA gel has an anti-destructive effect on articular cartilage (AC). Our results demonstrated that the carbazate-modified component could suppress apoptotic events, potentially by quenching of ROS/LPO products such as 4-HNE in OA joints. Modification of the HA molecule offers opportunities to introduce (covalent) coupling of additional molecules to the gel, with controlled retention and subsequent release in the joint.
authors: Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and Unit of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: cecilia.aulin@ki.se.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Aulin
authors: Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and Unit of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden; K. G. Jebsen Inflammation Research Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, Postboks 4950 Nydalen 0424 OSLO, Norway. Electronic address: peter.lundback@medisin.uio.no.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Lundbäck
authors: Department of Women and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Unit of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: karin.palmblad@ki.se.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Palmblad
authors: Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and Unit of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: lars.klareskog@ki.se.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Klareskog
authors: Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and Unit of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: helena.harris@ki.se.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Erlandsson Harris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006614:Hindlimb; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005782:Gels; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: 4-Hydroxynonenal; Anti-inflammatory; Cartilage; Hyaluronan; Lipid peroxidation