[Effect of HBP-A on meniscal injury and pathological hypertrophy and calcification of the meniscus].

Objective: To investigate the effect of HBP-A on meniscal injuries and the expressions of genes associated with pathological hypertrophy and calcification of the meniscusinduced by abnormal loading.

Methods: Bovine meniscus explants were subjected to 25% strain at 0.3 Hz for 3 h and treated with 0.6 mg/mL of HBP-A. The cell viability in the meniscus explants after 72 hin culture was determined using live/dead staining and the expression levels of genes associated with pathological hypertrophy and calcification of the meniscus (ANKH, ENPP1, ALP, MMP13, and IL-1) were measured using real-time PCR and Western blotting. The conditioned medium was collected for testing sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) release.

Results: The number of dead cells, loss of proteoglycan content, and the expressions of ANKH, ENPP1, ALP and MMP13, and IL-1 at both the mRNA and protein levels were all significantly lower in the meniscus explants treated with 0.6 mg/mL HBP-A than in the explants with only 25% abnormal pressure stimulation (n=3, P<0.05).

Conclusion: HBP-A can effectively alleviate meniscal injuries induced by abnormal loading and suppress the expressions of genes related with pathological hypertrophy and calcification of the meniscus, and can serve as a potential drug for treatment of knee osteoarthritis.