Knee osteoarthritis induces atrophy and neuromuscular junction remodeling in the quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles of rats

Abstract

associated with autophagic degradation dysfunction), by confocal and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and cytokine magnetic milliplex were used to measure CRP and PGE 2 and IL-1b in serum samples, respectively. Results: At the end of the study, resveratrol significantly reduced the serum levels of IL-1 b, CRP and PGE 2 (p0.01 for IL-1b and PCR, and p0.05 for PGE 2 ). In relation to autophagy proteins, results showed that the expression of LC3 was greater in the AIA synovial membranes than in control synovial samples, in which the presence of vesicles was easily observed. Interestingly, the synovial tissues from the resveratrol group showed a significatively (p0.001) higher signal for LC3, compared with the AIA samples. As compared with healthy controls, AIA synovial membranes showed increased p62 expression, which was markedly inhibited by resveratrol treatment (p0.01). The protein level of Beclin 1 was higher in AIA synovial membranes than in healthy samples; however, resveratrol did not increase the signal of Beclin 1. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between p62 expression and serum IL-1b levels (p0.05 and r¼0.617), PGE 2 (p0.01 and r¼0. 604), and PCR (p0.001 and r¼0.692). Conclusions: These data suggest that resveratrol is capable of inducing the non-canonical (Beclin1 independent) autophagy pathway, and in consequence, modulates the cross-talk existence with inflammation in an acute AIA model, which could also ameliorate the severity of rheumatoid arthritis. KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS INDUCES ATROPHY AND NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION REMODELING IN THE QUADRICEPS AND TIBIALIS ANTERIOR MUSCLES OF RATS