You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Extended report
Synovial fluid chondroitin sulphate epitopes 3B3 and 7D4, and glycosaminoglycan in human knee osteoarthritis after exercise
  1. Judith C Bautcha,
  2. Murray K Claytonb,
  3. Qili Chuc,
  4. Kenneth A Johnsond
  1. aWinona State University, Winona, Minnesota, USA, bDepartment of Statistics and Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, cDepartment of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, dDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  1. Professor Kenneth A Johnson, The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, 601 Vernon L Tharp Street, Columbus Ohio 43210–1089, USA Email:johnson.2064{at}osu.edu

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Walking exercise alleviates some symptoms, such as pain, in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, a major concern is that weightbearing exercise on osteoarthritic joints may exacerbate articular cartilage degradation. Loading of proteoglycan depleted articular cartilage in vitro increased expression of the chondroitin sulphate epitope 3B3, suggesting that loading may influence metabolism of osteoarthritic cartilage. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of walking exercise on articular cartilage metabolism in patients with knee OA, as reflected by changes in concentrations of synovial fluid markers.

METHODS Thirty elderly patients with knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grades II to IV) were randomly allocated to control (n = 15) and 12 week exercise (n = 15) groups. Synovial fluid obtained from 21 of the patients at time zero and after 12 weeks was examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the chondroitin sulphate epitopes 3B3 and 7D4, and by a dye binding assay with 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue for total sulphated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentrations. The 3B3/GAG and 7D4/GAG ratios were calculated.

RESULTS No significant changes in concentrations of 3B3, 7D4, GAG, 3B3/GAG, or 7D4/GAG between time zero and 12 weeks were found in either group. However, there were significant declines in 3B3 (p=0.001), GAG (p=0.007), and the 3B3/GAG ratio (p=0.049) with aging.

CONCLUSION Twelve weeks of walking exercise had no demonstrable adverse effects on articular cartilage metabolism, as reflected by the concentrations of synovial fluid GAG or the chondroitin sulphate epitopes 3B3 and 7D4.

  • knee
  • osteoarthritis
  • exercise
  • chondroitin sulphate epitopes

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.59.11.887

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text