Histological and molecular characterisation of feline humeral condylar osteoarthritis

Abstract

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is a clinically important and common disease of older cats. The pathological changes and molecular mechanisms which underpin the disease have yet to be described. In this study we evaluated selected histological and transcriptomic measures in the articular cartilage and subchondral bone (SCB) of the humeral condyle of cats with or without OA.ResultsThe histomorphometric changes in humeral condyle were concentrated in the medial aspect of the condyle. Cats with OA had a reduction in articular chondrocyte density, an increase in the histopathological score of the articular cartilage and a decrease in the SCB porosity of the medial part of the humeral condyle. An increase in LUM gene expression was observed in OA cartilage from the medial part of the humeral condyle.ConclusionsHistopathological changes identified in OA of the feline humeral condyle appear to primarily affect the medial aspect of the joint. Histological changes suggest that SCB is involved in the OA process in cats. Differentiating which changes represent OA rather than the aging process, or the effects of obesity and or bodyweight requires further investigation.

Retrospective Radiographic Study of Degenerative Joint Disease in Cats: Prevalence Based on Orthogonal Radiographs

“…In other reports, inflammatory and immunemediated etiology has been suggested as the cause of primary DJD in cats (14), and immune dysfunction has been seen in association with DJD in a genomic/proteomic study (15). Some studies have reported the pathology of feline arthritis (16,17), and it is gradually being elucidated. To further our understanding of the pathophysiology of feline DJD, it is necessary to prove these relationships precisely (18).…”

Animal Models of Aging Research: Implications for Human Aging and Age-Related Diseases

“…Similarly, cats represent another physiologically well-characterized domesticated animal that has been used in aging studies (149,(154)(155)(156). As in dogs, several pathological age-associated processes occur in felines, including kidney disease, arthritis, sarcopenia, and neurological decline (149,(154)(155)(156). Cats live an average of 12-14 years, and life-span studies in this species are therefore also problematic (157); however, their aging phenotype may make them attractive models.…”

Spontaneous painful disease in companion animals can facilitate the development of chronic pain therapies for humans

“…3) 30e33 . OA in cats also appears to be very similar to the human condition 34,35 . Estimates of the number of dogs with clinical signs associated with OA are 20% of the population, translating to at least 15 million dogs in the US alone.…”