Effect of TGF-beta(1) and Chitosan-TGF-beta(1) Conjugate on Collagenase Induced Arthritis of the Knee in Rabbits

Chang, Eui Chan; Song, Kwang Sup; Jung, Ho Jung; Park, Young Uk; Kim, Mi Kyung

Abstract

PURPOSE
; To evaluate the effects of the chitosan-TGF-beta(1) conjugate and TGF-beta(1) on osteoarthritic rabbit cartilage induced by collagenase type II.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
; Chemical arthritis was induced in right knee of 15 rabbits by injection of collagenase type II (4 mg/mL, 0.25 cc) twice at day 1 and 4, and then each 5 rabbits were treated by intra-articular injection of TGF-beta(1) (15 ng/mL, 1 mL, group I), chitosan-TGF-beta(1) conjugate (Chitosan: 5.8 g/mL, TGF-beta(1): 15 ng/mL, group II) and PBS (1 mL, group III) at 10 days later in the same knees. The appearance of the injected knee joints and lameness were observed weekly. The articular cartilage and synovium obtained at 4 weeks were analysed by gross findings (India ink), histological examinations (H&E, Safrainin O) and evaluation through the Kikuchi score. RESULT; The osteoarthritic sign about knee joints was the most severe at 1 weeks after the initiation of collagenase injections, but there wasere no difference of 3 groups in osteoarthritic sign and lameness was most severe in group 3. Group 2 showed the most superior results in gross findings using india ink and the these results were more prominent in the evaluation of histological scoring (average scores of each group I:14+/-2.7, II:10.3+/-1.2, III:20.3+/-3.7).
CONCLUSION
; These results might suggest that, in the rabbit osteoarthritic knee model induced by collagenase, Chitosan-TGF-beta(1) conjugate is more effective than only TGF-beta(1) in inhibiting cartilage degeneration.