Osteoarthritis induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus is reduced in germ-free mice.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the contribution of the gut microbiota to the development of injury-induced osteoarthritis (OA).

Design

OA was induced using the destabilized medial meniscus (DMM) model in 20 germ-free (GF) C57BL/6J male mice housed in a gnotobiotic facility and 23 strain-matched specific pathogen free (SPF) mice in 2 age groups -13.5 weeks avg age at DMM (17 SPF and 15 GF) and 43 weeks avg age at DMM (6 SPF and 5 GF). OA severity was measured using scores for articular cartilage structure (ACS), loss of safranin O (SafO) staining, osteophyte size, and synovial hyperplasia. Microbiome analysis by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed on stool samples and LPS and LPS binding protein (LBP) were measured in plasma.

Results

Compared to the SPF DMM mice, the ma

SUBMITTER: Ulici V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7970023 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature