Expression of Nos2 and Acan Genes in Rat Knee Articular Cartilage in Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue of rats with sodium monoiodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis were detected during this histological study and the effect was evaluated of chondroitin sulfate and a multiprobiotic preparation on the healing process, such as the absence, due to the coadministration of these preparations, of postnecrotic changes in the cartilage surface and its replacement by fibrous elements. A molecular analysis of the cartilage tissue sampled from rats with experimental osteoarthritis has equally shown an increase in the Nos2 gene expression and a decrease in the Acan gene expression compared with the control group of animals, which indicates the activation of inflammatory and destructive processes in the tissue. Due to the coadministration of chondroitin sulfate and the multiprobiotic in the same conditions, the expression pattern of the Nos2 and Acan genes returned to the control values, which indicated the clinical prospects for the multiprobiotic as a substance able to enhance the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action of this chondroprotector in osteoarthritis.