Effect of an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases on spontaneous osteoarthritis in guinea pigs

Department of Orthopaedics, Huddinge Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Recently discovered chemically modified tetracyclines have been found to be effective inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated connective tissue destruction in a variety of pathologic processes, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA). Since the histologic techniques used in our laboratory have been validated in Hartley guinea pigs, which have a high incidence of OA-like changes in the proximal tibia, we have used two tetracyclines which have potent inhibitory capacity against various MMPs, doxycycline (Dox) and a compound known as chemically modified tetracyclines (CMT-7). These were given by mouth to a group of guinea pigs for 4 to 8 months, and we assessed the effect of the compound on morphologic and biochemical aspects of OA. We found that prophylactic CMT-7 given orally decreases OA changes in the knee joints both in vitro and in vivo in the guinea pig OA model. Cartilage fibrillation and destruction, in addition to subchondral bone sclerosis and cyst formation, were all decreased in the central compartment of the medial condyle, which is most affected by OA compared with controls. Also collagen, hyaluronan and proteoglycancontent in cartilage was higher in the CMT-7 treated group compared with controls. In contrast, OA changes were not decreased in the Dox group. Our results confirm that various tetracyclines have reduced the severity of OA in animal models, indicating the therapeutic potential of this class of compounds in the future.

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