Practical Geriatrics ›› 2022, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (10): 996-1000.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1003-9198.2022.10.006

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Role and the mechanism of synovial tissue in the treatment of osteoarthritis by mesenchymal stem cells

CAO Juan, YAO Yao, LI Ling-ling, WU Wen-hui, XIAO Yun-yun, DING Cong-zhu   

  1. CAO Juan, LI Ling-ling, WU Wen-hui, XIAO Yun-yun, DING Cong-zhu. Department of Geriatrics; YAO Yao. Department of Pharmacy, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical College, Nanjing 210008, China
  • Received:2021-10-27 Online:2022-10-20 Published:2022-10-21

Abstract: Objective To investigate the changes of synovial membrane in osteoarthritis(OA),and to investigate the therapeutic effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on OA through synovial membrane and the related mechanism. Methods Fifteen healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits were selected and divided into 3 groups, including control group, OA model group and UC-MSCs intervention group, with five rabbits in each group. After successful OA modeling, intra-articular injection of UC-MSCs was given to UC-MSCs intervention group. Imaging and pathological changes of the joints were observed after 4 weeks of treatment. The expression levels of interleukin-6(IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-13(MMP-13)and extracellular signal regulated kinase(ERK) proteins in the synovial tissues of rabbits in each group were detected by immunohistochemistry and the protein expression levels of IL-6, MMP-13, ERK and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the synovial tissues of rabbits were detected by Western blot. Results Magnetic resonance examination showed that compared with control group, the synovium of the knee joint in OA model group was significantly thickened and the effusion of the joint cavity was significantly increased; Synovial thickening and joint effusion were significantly improved in UC-MSCs intervention group compared with OA model group. Pathological results showed that the number of synovial inflammatory cells and synovial hyperplasia and edema were significantly increased in OA model group compared with control group. Compared with OA model group, the infiltration of synovial inflammatory cells and synovial hyperplasia and edema were significantly reduced in UC-MSCs intervention group. The levels of ERK, IL-6 and MMP-13 in synovial membrane of rabbit in OA model group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05).The levels of ERK and MMP-13 in UC-MSCs intervention group were decreased compared with OA model group (P<0.05).Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of IL-6, MMP-13, MAPK and ERK in OA model group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05), while significantly decreased in UC-MSCs intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusions Inflammatory factors of synovial tissue are involved in the formation and progression of OA.UC-MSCs has a protective effect on the synovial membrane of OA, which is related to the inhibition of inflammatory response.

Key words: osteoarthritis, mesenchymal stem cells, synovial membrane

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