Regulation of the expression of 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein/5-lipoxygenase and the synthesis of leukotriene B(4) in osteoarthritic chondrocytes: role of transforming growth factor beta and eicosanoids.

Objective: To explore the modulation of 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) expression in human osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes, their relative implications in leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) production, the effect of different factors on this system, and the influence of increased LTB(4) production on the synthesis of catabolic factors of cartilage.

Methods: FLAP and 5-LOX expression and LTB(4) production were monitored following treatment with transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1; 5 ng/ml) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25[OH](2)D(3); 50 nM) alone or in combination with selective or nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, naproxen (90 mug/ml), NS-398 (10 muM), or FR122047 (5 muM), or a dual inhibitor of COX/5-LOX activity, licofelone (2.6 muM).

Differential gene expression and regulation of the bone morphogenetic protein antagonists follistatin and gremlin in normal and osteoarthritic human chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts.

Objective: To compare gene expression in normal and osteoarthritic (OA) human chondrocytes using microarray technology. Of the novel genes identified, we selected follistatin, a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist, and investigated its expression/regulation as well as that of 3 other antagonists, gremlin, chordin, and noggin, in normal and OA chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts.

Methods: Basal and induced gene expression were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma inhibits interleukin-1beta-induced membrane-associated prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 expression in human synovial fibroblasts by interfering with Egr-1.

Membrane-associated prostaglandin (PG) E(2) synthase-1 (mPGES-1) catalyzes the conversion of PGH(2) to PGE(2), which contributes to many biological processes. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and plays an important role in growth, differentiation, and inflammation in different tissues. Here, we examined the effect of PPARgamma ligands on interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced mPGES-1 expression in human synovial fibroblasts.

The inhibition of subchondral bone resorption in the early phase of experimental dog osteoarthritis by licofelone is associated with a reduction in the synthesis of MMP-13 and cathepsin K.

Objective: To evaluate the morphological changes that take place in the subchondral bone and calcified cartilage zone in the experimental anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) dog model of osteoarthritis (OA) and analyze concomitant changes in the level of MMP-13 and cathepsin K, as well as examine the therapeutic effects of licofelone, a lipoxygenase (LO)/cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, on these morphological and biochemical changes.

Methods: Experimental group 1 underwent sectioning of the ACL of the right knee with no active treatment (placebo group). Experimental groups 2 and 3 underwent sectioning of the ACL of the right knee and were administered therapeutic concentrations of licofelone (2.

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of knee osteoarthritis progression over two years and correlation with clinical symptoms and radiologic changes.

Objective: To evaluate the change in osteoarthritic (OA) knee cartilage volume over a two-year period with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to correlate the MRI changes with radiologic changes.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with symptomatic knee OA underwent MRI of the knee at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Loss of cartilage volumes were computed and contrasted with changes in clinical variables for OA and with standardized semiflexed knee radiographs at baseline at 1 and 2 years.

Rationale for the use of structure-modifying drugs and agents in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

This paper summarizes our current stand on potential pathophysiological targets for osteoarthritis (OA) therapies. Although OA is a complicated disease, involving the cartilage, synovial membrane, and subchondral bone, a number of interactive pathways have been found to explain the structural changes in the disease process. Study of these three tissues has yielded a list of targets to examine for their potential to affect disease progression.

Cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandins in articular tissues.

Objectives: To provide an overview on: 1) the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in articular tissues; 2) the role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in these tissue functions; and 3) clinical trials with COX-2-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (coxibs).

Methods: MEDLINE search was performed using the key words "cyclooxygenase," "prostaglandin," "osteoarthritis" (OA), and "rheumatoid arthritis" (RA). Selected publications related to clinical trials with coxibs also are included.

Endothelin 1 promotes osteoarthritic cartilage degradation via matrix metalloprotease 1 and matrix metalloprotease 13 induction.

Objective: Degradation of the collagenous extracellular matrix by metalloproteases (MMPs) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Recently, it was suggested that endothelin 1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, may be involved in MMP regulation. This study investigated the role of ET-1 in OA cartilage degradation.

Hyaluronic acid reverses the abnormal synthetic activity of human osteoarthritic subchondral bone osteoblasts.

The underlying mechanisms responsible for both cartilage loss and subchondral bone changes in osteoarthritis (OA) remain unknown. It is becoming recognized that the extracellular matrix influences the metabolism of cells both in vivo and in vitro and can modify their responses to external stimuli. Indeed, the glycosaminoglycan/proteoglycan matrix is of major importance for the proliferation and/or differentiation of a number of cells.

Computer-aided method for quantification of cartilage thickness and volume changes using MRI: validation study using a synthetic model.

The primary objective of this study was to develop a computer-aided method for the quantification of three-dimensional (3-D) cartilage changes over time in knees with osteoarthritis (OA). We introduced a local coordinate system (LCS) for the femoral and tibial cartilage boundaries that provides a standardized representation of cartilage geometry, thickness, and volume. The LCS can be registered in different data sets from the same patient so that results can be directly compared.

Human adult chondrocytes express hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) isoforms but not HgF: potential implication of osteoblasts on the presence of HGF in cartilage.

HGF is increased in human OA cartilage, possibly from Ob's. RT-PCR shows HGF isoforms are differently regulated between chondrocytes and Ob. A paracrine cross-talk between subchondral bone and cartilage may occur during OA.

In vivo selective inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 in rabbit experimental osteoarthritis is associated with a reduction in the development of structural changes.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to investigate, using an experimental rabbit model of osteoarthritis (OA), the effect of a selective mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK-1/2) inhibitor, PD 198306, on the development of structural changes. Additional aims were to assess the effects of the inhibitor on levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (phospho-ERK-1/2) and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1; collagenase 1) in OA chondrocytes.

Methods: After surgical sectioning of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee joint, rabbits with OA were separated into 3 experimental groups: oral treatment with placebo or with PD 198306 at a therapeutic concentration of 10 mg/kg/day or 30 mg/kg/day.

Safety and efficacy of long-term intraarticular steroid injections in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of long-term intraarticular (IA) steroid injections for knee pain related to osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind trial, 68 patients with OA of the knee received IA injections of triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg (34 patients) or saline (34 patients) into the study knee every 3 months for up to 2 years. The primary outcome variable was radiologic progression of joint space narrowing of the injected knee after 2 years.

Interleukin 17, a nitric oxide-producing cytokine with a peroxynitrite-independent inhibitory effect on proteoglycan synthesis.

Objective: To compare the potency of 2 cytokines, interleukin 17 (IL-17) and IL-1beta, on rat cartilage proteoglycan synthesis with special attention to nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite formation.

Methods: Chondrocytes in alginate beads were stimulated with human recombinant (rh) IL-17 (0.03 to 300.

The in situ up-regulation of chondrocyte interleukin-1-converting enzyme and interleukin-18 levels in experimental osteoarthritis is mediated by nitric oxide.

Objective: To investigate in situ the relationship between 2 key mediators implicated in osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage: nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-1-converting enzyme (ICE). Interleukin-18 (IL-18) was also studied and served as reference for the effects of ICE.

Methods: An OA model was created in dogs by sectioning (stab wound) the anterior cruciate ligament of the right stifle joint.

Nitric oxide induced cell death in human osteoarthritic synoviocytes is mediated by tyrosine kinase activation and hydrogen peroxide and/or superoxide formation.

Objective: To investigate the regulation of osteoarthritis (OA) synovial fibroblast nitric oxide (NO) induced cell death.

Methods: Cultured synovial fibroblasts from human OA synovium were incubated with NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in the absence or presence of specific inhibitors of different protein kinases, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), caspase-3 and caspase-9, inducible NO synthase, and in the absence or presence of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Experiments were also performed using scavengers of NO (carboxy-PXTO), peroxynitrite (uric acid), and superoxide (taxifolin).

Licofelone (ML-3000), a dual inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase, reduces the level of cartilage chondrocyte death in vivo in experimental dog osteoarthritis: inhibition of pro-apoptotic factors.

Objective: To evaluate in vivo therapeutic efficacy of licofelone, a novel competitive dual inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) in chondrocyte death in the canine ligament transection model of osteoarthritis (OA), and to explore its effect on factors involved in the apoptotic phenomenon, i.e., caspase-3, COX-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

Metabolic activity of osteoblasts from periprosthetic trabecular bone in failed total hip arthroplasties and osteoarthritis as markers of osteolysis and loosening.

Objective: This study explored whether osteoblast metabolism in trabecular bone of failed total hip replacement (fTHR) in primary osteoarthritis (OA) plays a role in differential failure.

Methods: Osteoblast cell cultures were prepared from metaphyseal trabecular bone of normal individuals, OA patients, OA patients with fTHR with massive cavitary osteolysis (fTHR-O) and without massive cavitary osteolysis (fTHR-NO). Osteoblasts were characterized by measuring osteocalcin, cellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) activity.

Study of the role of leukotriene B()4 in abnormal function of human subchondral osteoarthritis osteoblasts: effects of cyclooxygenase and/or 5-lipoxygenase inhibition.

Objective: To compare the effect of licofelone, NS-398 (an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase 2 [COX-2]), and BayX-1005 (an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase activating protein) on the production of leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and on cell biomarkers by human osteoarthritis (OA) subchondral osteoblasts.

Methods: Primary in vitro osteoblasts were prepared from subchondral bone specimens obtained from OA patients and autopsy subjects. LTB(4) and PGE(2) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in conditioned media of osteoblasts incubated in the presence or absence of licofelone, NS-398, or BayX-1005.

The role of cytokines in osteoarthritis pathophysiology.

Morphological changes observed in OA include cartilage erosion as well as a variable degree of synovial inflammation. Current research attributes these changes to a complex network of biochemical factors, including proteolytic enzymes, that lead to a breakdown of the cartilage macromolecules. Cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF-alpha produced by activated synoviocytes, mononuclear cells or by articular cartilage itself significantly up-regulate metalloproteinases (MMP) gene expression.

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) induces collagenase-3 production in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes via AP-1 dependent activation: differential activation of AP-1 members by IL-17 and IL-1beta.

Objective: In osteoarthritic (OA) synovial fluid, many proinflammatory cytokines coexist and stimulate chondrocytes. As interleukin 17 (IL-17) is a catabolic cytokine, we explored its effects on collagenase-3 production. In a comparative manner we identified IL-17 and IL-1beta induced transcription factors mediating upregulation of this enzyme's production.

Synthesis of interleukin 1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) is eicosanoid dependent in human osteoarthritis synovial membrane explants: interactions with antiinflammatory cytokines.

Objective: To determine the level of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) synthesized and released by synovium of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and to study the role of lipoxygenase (LO)/cyclooxygenase (COX) products on proinflammatory cytokine and interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) synthesis.

Methods: Human OA synovial explants were cultured in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (L) and the ionophores ionomycin (I) and thapsigargin (T) (LIT) for 72 h at 37 degrees C, and LTB4 released into the culture medium was measured in the absence or presence of a COX-2-specific inhibitor, NS-398, or the 5-LO activating protein inhibitor Bay-x-1005. Increasing concentrations of LTB4 (10(-9) to 10(-6) M) were incubated with explants for 24 h at 37 degrees C, and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the conditioned medium were quantitated by ELISA.