Characterization of ageing joint in a large model of musculoskeletal deseases

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder characterised by joint pain and stiffness. It is featured by an imbalance between the synthesis and destruction of cartilage with joint damage. Aging and joint trauma are the two main risk factors for osteoarthritis.
The synovium and the infrapatellar fat pad two joint tissues that appear to play a key role in joint inflammation and in initiation and progression of osteoarthritis in humans. However, their exact involvement in OA pathogenesis and in ageing has been poorly described to date, in preclinical animal models for musculoskeletal diseases. The aims of this study were: (1) to describe the morphometric changes in the ovine synovium and infrapatellar fat pad, with age and induced osteoarthritis, (2) to describe the in vitro characteristics of synovial fibroblasts from young and old sheep and their response to oxidative stress and senescence conditions.
In our cohort of sheep, all ovine synovium were macroscopically normal. Some changes observed within the fat pad, during ageing (fibrosis or chondroid metaplasia) have also been observed in some sheep after induction of osteoarthritis. The fibroblast-like synoviocytes from aged specimens cultured in vitro had a slower growth rate and showed a cell enlargement generally associated with age-related senescence. Changes have been associated with other changes such as morphological changes in the nucleus and positive senescence-associated -galactosidase activity in cells stimulated by oxidative stress.
This result raises questions about the real clinical impact of this alteration on joint health. Future studies could further explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the changes observed in the synovium and infrapatellar pad, as well as the potential impact of these alterations on the development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies for age-related joint pathologies.

Date of Award	25 Aug 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Namur
Supervisor	Fanny Hontoir (Supervisor)