Synovial Extracellular Vesicles: Structure and Role in Synovial Fluid Tribological Performances.

The quality of the lubricant between cartilaginous joint surfaces impacts the joint's mechanistic properties. In this study, we define the biochemical, ultrastructural, and tribological signatures of synovial fluids (SF) from patients with degenerative (osteoarthritis-OA) or inflammatory (rheumatoid arthritis-RA) joint pathologies in comparison with SF from healthy subjects. Phospholipid (PL) concentration in SF increased in pathological contexts, but the proportion PL relative to the overall lipids decreased. Subtle changes in PL chain composition were attributed to the inflammatory state. Transmission electron microscopy showed the occurrence of large multilamellar synovial extracellular vesicles (EV) filled with glycoprotein gel in healthy subjects. Synovial extracellular vesicle structure was altered in SF from OA and RA patients. RA samples systematically showed lower viscosity than healthy samples under a hydrodynamic lubricating regimen whereas OA samples showed higher viscosity. In turn, under a boundary regimen, cartilage surfaces in both pathological situations showed high wear and friction coefficients. Thus, we found a difference in the biochemical, tribological, and ultrastructural properties of synovial fluid in healthy people and patients with osteoarthritis and arthritis of the joints, and that large, multilamellar vesicles are essential for good boundary lubrication by ensuring a ball-bearing effect and limiting the destruction of lipid layers at the cartilage surface.

Nonclinical safety assessment of repeated administration and biodistribution of ChAd3-EBO-Z Ebola candidate vaccine.

ChAd3-EBO-Z is an investigational adenovirus-based vaccine for the prevention of Ebola virus disease. Two nonclinical studies were performed to evaluate the biodistribution, local tolerance and potential local and systemic toxic effects of this vaccine. In the biodistribution study, rats received a single intramuscular injection of either ChAd3-EBO-Z or saline. Enlargement of the draining lymph nodes, starting on day 2, was noticed in ChAd3-EBO-Z-treated rats, indicating that an immune response had taken place. Viral DNA was mainly found at the injection sites and in the draining lymph nodes, from where it progressively disappeared during the observation period, while it was found only transiently and occasionally in other organs. In the repeated-dose toxicity study, either ChAd3-EBO-Z or saline was administered intramuscularly to rabbits on two occasions with a 2-week interval. General health status, rectal temperature, local tolerance, ophthalmology, hematology, coagulation and blood chemistry parameters were monitored. Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations were performed. Treatment-related changes included a transient increase in neutrophil count, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels, and a transient decrease in platelet count. As expected, microscopic observations 3 days after the second injection were related to the elicited inflammatory reaction, and these inflammatory responses had almost completely disappeared 29 days after the second immunization. In conclusion, the vaccine was locally and systemically well-tolerated and the viral vector was partially or totally cleared from the organs where it disseminated, supporting the clinical development of the vaccine.

Radiographic assessment of the femorotibial joint of the CCLT rabbit experimental model of osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of the study were to determine the relevance and validity of in vivo non-invasive radiographic assessment of the CCLT (Cranial Cruciate Ligament Transection) rabbit model of osteoarthritis (OA) and to estimate the pertinence, reliability and reproducibility of a radiographic OA (ROA) grading scale and associated radiographic atlas. METHODS: In vivo non-invasive extended non weight-bearing radiography of the rabbit femorotibial joint was standardized. Two hundred and fifty radiographs from control and CCLT rabbits up to five months after surgery were reviewed by three readers. They subsequently constructed an original semi-quantitative grading scale as well as an illustrative atlas of individual ROA feature for the medial compartment. To measure agreements, five readers independently scored the same radiographic sample using this atlas and three of them performed a second reading. To evaluate the pertinence of the ROA grading scale, ROA results were compared with gross examination in forty operated and ten control rabbits. RESULTS: Radiographic osteophytes of medial femoral condyles and medial tibial condyles were scored on a four point scale and dichotomously for osteophytes of medial fabella. Medial joint space width was scored as normal, reduced or absent. Each ROA features was well correlated with gross examination (p < 0.001). ICCs of each ROA features demonstrated excellent agreement between readers and within reading. Global ROA score gave the highest ICCs value for between (ICC 0.93; CI 0.90-0.96) and within (ICC ranged from 0.94 to 0.96) observer agreements. Among all individual ROA features, medial joint space width scoring gave the highest overall reliability and reproducibility and was correlated with both meniscal and cartilage macroscopic lesions (rs = 0.68 and rs = 0.58, p < 0.001 respectively). Radiographic osteophytes of the medial femoral condyle gave the lowest agreements while being well correlated with the macroscopic osteophytes (rs = 0.64, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Non-invasive in vivo radiography of the rabbit femorotibial joint is feasible, relevant and allows a reproducible grading of experimentally induced OA lesion. The radiographic grading scale and atlas presented could be used as a template for in vivo non invasive grading of ROA in preclinical studies and could allow future comparisons between studies.

18F-FDG PET SUVmax correlates with osteosarcoma histologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: preclinical evaluation in an orthotopic rat model.

UNLABELLED: Assessment of osteosarcoma response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is performed by histopathologic analysis after surgical resection of the primary tumor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether (18)F-FDG PET could be a noninvasive surrogate to histopathologic analysis and allow for earlier response evaluation to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in osteosarcoma. METHODS: Metabolic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was assessed in immunocompetent rats with a preestablished orthotopic osteosarcoma using (18)F-FDG PET before and after receiving 2 doses of ifosfamide. Comparison was then made by assessing histologic responses on euthanized animals. RESULTS: Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) measured by (18)F-FDG PET after 2 doses of chemotherapy was correlated to histologic classification (P < 0.01). An SUVmax less than 15 corresponded to good responders, whereas an SUVmax greater than 15 but less than 20 and an SUVmax greater than 20 corresponded to partial responders or nonresponders, respectively. A 40% decrease in SUVmax between the first and second (18)F-FDG PET scans distinguished between partial and good response to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Determination of SUVmax using semiquantitative (18)F-FDG PET predicts response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy earlier than does histologic analysis.

The ratio 1660/1690 cm(-1) measured by infrared microspectroscopy is not specific of enzymatic collagen cross-links in bone tissue.

In postmenopausal osteoporosis, an impairment in enzymatic cross-links (ECL) occurs, leading in part to a decline in bone biomechanical properties. Biochemical methods by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) are currently used to measure ECL. Another method has been proposed, by Fourier Transform InfraRed Imaging (FTIRI), to measure a mature PYD/immature DHLNL cross-links ratio, using the 1660/1690 cm(-1) area ratio in the amide I band. However, in bone, the amide I band composition is complex (collagens, non-collagenous proteins, water vibrations) and the 1660/1690 cm(-1) by FTIRI has never been directly correlated with the PYD/DHLNL by HPLC. A study design using lathyritic rats, characterized by a decrease in the formation of ECL due to the inhibition of lysyl oxidase, was used in order to determine the evolution of 1660/1690 cm(-1) by FTIR Microspectroscopy in bone tissue and compare to the ECL quantified by HPLC. The actual amount of ECL was quantified by HPLC on cortical bone from control and lathyritic rats. The lathyritic group exhibited a decrease of 78% of pyridinoline content compared to the control group. The 1660/1690 cm(-1) area ratio was increased within center bone compared to inner bone, and this was also correlated with an increase in both mineral maturity and mineralization index. However, no difference in the 1660/1690 cm(-1) ratio was found between control and lathyritic rats. Those results were confirmed by principal component analysis performed on multispectral infrared images. In bovine bone, in which PYD was physically destructed by UV-photolysis, the PYD/DHLNL (measured by HPLC) was strongly decreased, whereas the 1660/1690 cm(-1) was unmodified. In conclusion, the 1660/1690 cm(-1) is not related to the PYD/DHLNL ratio, but increased with age of bone mineral, suggesting that a modification of this ratio could be mainly due to a modification of the collagen secondary structure related to the mineralization process.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of an alumina-zirconia composite for arthroplasty applications.

In order to improve the reliability and the mechanical properties of orthopaedic hip prosthesis, new ceramic composites starting with nanosized powders of alumina and zirconia have been recently developed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the biological tolerance of one of these sintered ceramics and of its alumina and zirconia constitutive nanosized powders with both in vitro and in vivo approaches. At first, osteoblasts and fibroblasts were cultured either upon sintered ceramic discs with polished or rough surfaces or in the presence of the corresponding alumina or zirconia powders at various concentrations. Thereafter, we chronically injected these powders in the knee articulation of rats. In vitro, the materials showed no deleterious effect on cell proliferation, extra-cellular matrix production (human type I collagen and fibronectin) or on cell morphology. In vivo, the histological examination showed only a very moderate and non-specific granulomatous response of the synovial membrane but no major inflammation as clinically described with metals or polyethylene wear debris. Besides its improved physical properties, this recently developed alumina-zirconia composite showed satisfactory biocompatibility.