Coenzyme Q10 encapsulated in micelles ameliorates osteoarthritis by inhibiting inflammatory cell death.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease and is characterized by breakdown of joint cartilage. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) exerts diverse biological effects on bone and cartilage; observational studies have suggested that CoQ10 may slow OA progression and inflammation. However, any effect of CoQ10 on OA remains unclear. Here, we investigated the therapeutic utility of CoQ10-micelles.

Methods: Seven-week-old male Wistar rats were injected with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) to induce OA. CoQ10-micelles were administered orally to MIA-induced OA rats; celecoxib served as the positive control. Pain, tissue destruction, and inflammation were measured. The expression levels of catabolic and inflammatory cell death markers were assayed in CoQ10-micelle-treated chondrocytes.

Results: Oral supplementation with CoQ10-micelles attenuated OA symptoms remarkably, including pain, tissue destruction, and inflammation. The expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and MMP-13, and of the inflammatory cell death markers RIP1, RIP3, and pMLKL in synovial tissues were significantly reduced by CoQ10-micelle supplementation, suggesting that CoQ10-micelles might attenuate the synovitis of OA. CoQ10-micelle addition to cultured OA chondrocytes reduced the expression levels of catabolic and inflammatory cell death markers.

Conclusions: CoQ10-micelles might usefully treat OA.