Intra-articular injection of irisin and hyaluronic acid in promoting cartilage regeneration in a mouse model of osteoarthritis

Project objectives

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic degenerative arthropathy, affecting more than 10% of adults over the age of 60. Weight loss and an active lifestyle are key to both reducing the risk of OA and improving joint stiffness and pain in already affected patients. Irisin is a recently discovered myokine that is secreted from skeletal muscle during exercise. Its effects are exerted on multiple tissues, including bone and muscle, so much so that it can provide a biological basis for the numerous benefits of physical activity in numerous metabolic disorders, primarily obesity and diabetes.

A recent in vitro study by our group demonstrated that irisin acts on osteoarthritic articular chondrocytes by increasing cell proliferation and the production of fundamental extracellular matrix molecules through the inhibition of the intracellular p38, Akt, JNK and NFκB pathways.
In light of these preliminary results, we hypothesized that irisin may promote cartilage regeneration in vivo in a preclinical model of OA (mouse).

The primary objective of the project is to evaluate the effect of the combination of hyaluronic acid and irisin on osteoarthritic cartilage with a view to the development of a regenerative therapy for OA. The secondary objective of the study is the analysis of the role of endogenous irisin on osteoarthritic cartilage released following exposure to intrinsic (physical exercise) or extrinsic (muscle electrical stimulation) stimuli.

The experimental group will be treated with an intraarticular injection of hyaluronic acid and irisin, while the effect of physical exercise and passive muscle electrostimulation will be evaluated in untreated animals. The effects of irisin on articular cartilage will be examined by histological analysis, gene expression of anabolic, catabolic and protein synthesis factors.

Start and end date

Project Manager

Coordinating institution of the project

Other Institutions involved

• University of Rome “Tor Vergata” Interdepartmental Service Center – Station for Animal Technology

Funding source(s).