Amelogenin Null Mice Develop Osteoarthritis, While Its Application Mitigates Disease Phenotypes in a Rat Model.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have demonstrated that recombinant human amelogenin protein (rHAM⁺) promotes healing of injured articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and skeletal ligaments. Therefore, we speculated that amelogenin may play a role in osteoarthritis (OA) development. Aged amelogenin-null and wild-type mice underwent micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological analyses to assess OA-related changes. Additionally, OA was induced in rat knees via destabilization of the medial meniscus, followed by treatment with 0.5 mg/mL rHAM⁺ dissolved in propylene glycol alginate (PGA) or PGA alone. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological analyses were performed. Twenty-three-month-old amelogenin-null mice exhibited severe OA features, including cartilage loss, joi

SUBMITTER: Helwa-Shalom O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12274640 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature