Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate associated to photobiomodulation prevents degenerative morphological changes in an experimental model of osteoarthritis in rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of combined treatment with chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate (CS/Gl) and photobiomodulation (PBM) on the degenerative process related to osteoarthritis (OA) in the articular cartilage in rats. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: OA control group (CG); OA animals submitted to PBM treatment (PBM); OA animals submitted to CS/Gl treatment (CS/Gl); OA submitted to CS/GS associated with PBM treatments (GS/Gl + PBM). The CS/Gl started 48 h after the surgery, and they were performed for 29 consecutive days. Moreover, PBM was performed after the CS/Gl administration on the left joint. Morphological characteristics and immunoexpression of interleukin 10 (IL-10) and 1 beta (IL-1β) and collagen type II (Col II) of the articular cartilage were evaluated. The results showed that all treated groups (CS/Gl and PBM) presented attenuation signs of degenerative process (measured by histopathological analysis) and lower density chondrocytes [PBM (p = 0.0017); CS/Gl (p = 0.0153) and CS/Gl + PBM (p = 0.002)]. Additionally, CS/Gl [associated (p = 0.0089) or not with PBM (p = 0.0059)] showed significative lower values for OARSI grade evaluation. Furthermore, CS/GS + PBM decreased IL-1β protein expression (p = 0.0359) and increased IL-10 (p = 0.028) and Col II imunoexpression (p = 0.0204) compared to CG. This study showed that CS/Gl associated with PBM was effective in modulating inflammatory process and preventing the articular tissue degradation in the knees OA rats.

Multifaceted Protective Role of Glucosamine against Osteoarthritis: Review of Its Molecular Mechanisms

“…Additionally, male Wistar rats with surgically induced OA were treated with glucosamine sulphate (500 mg/kg) and chondroitin sulphate for 1 month. Similar to the findings of Li et al, these treated OA rats showed substantial improvement in joint histology grading with reduced IL-1β expression relative to the negative controls [55].…”

“…Considering the role of inflammation in OA, an anti-inflammatory agent should be beneficial in slowing down the progression of this disease [50,51]. Numerous animal [52][53][54][55] and human [56] studies reported that glucosamine possesses anti-inflammatory activities in OA. Aghazadeh-Habashi et al analyzed the effects of different doses of glucosamine (20,40,80, or 160 mg/kg/day) on rats with and found that 6-day glucosamine supplementation reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α and prevented the increase in the serum concentrations of nitrite, a stable metabolite of NO in rats with OA [52].…”

“…Protected against cartilage degradation↓ levels of inflammatory proteins in the affected knee ↓ IL-1β and TNF-α [52] Rats received glucosamine for 16 days orally at doses of 20, 40, 80, or 160 mg/kg/day ↓ IL-6 and TNF levels ↑ serum nitrite [53] Mice with OA were treated for 15 days with glucosamine at doses of 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg/day ↓ joint swelling and OA symptoms ↓ IL-β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-2 Rats with OA were treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg glucosamine for 2 months ↑ cytokine IL-10 and ↓TGF-1 levels [55] Wistar rats were treated for 1 month with 500 mg of glucosamine sulfate/kg with chondroitin sulfate ↓ IL-1β in serum [56] Patients with temporomandibular joint OA treated for 1 month or 1 year with 40 and 80 mg of glucosamine with hyaluronic acid (vs placebo with hyaluronic acid)…”

High-Frequency Near-Infrared Diode Laser Irradiation Attenuates IL-1β-Induced Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines and Matrix Metalloproteinases in Human Primary Chondrocytes

“…Worldwide, 10% of people older than 60 years are estimated to manifest OA symptoms [1]. Furthermore, OA has been shown to be associated with aging, being overweight or obese, cartilage injuries, and genetic factors [2][3][4]. Mechanical stress-induced inflammation plays an important role in OA.…”

Chondro‐inductive nanofibrous scaffold based gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol/chondroitin sulfate for cartilage tissue engineering

“…Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is one of the main GAGs that can be found in cartilage. CS helps chondrocytes entrench to ECM by its mechanical properties …”