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 essential extracellular matrix molecules through the inhibition of the intracellular p38/ERK MAPK pathway.
In light of these preliminary results, we hypothesized that irisin may promote cartilage regeneration in vivo in a preclinical model of OA (mouse). The experimental group will be treated with an intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid and irisin, while the effect of physical exercise and passive electrostimulation will be evaluated in the untreated animals.
The effects of irisin on articular cartilage will be examined by histological analysis of gene expression of anabolic, catabolic and protein synthesis factors.
The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of the combination of hyaluronic acid and irisin on osteoarthritic cartilage with a view to developing 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 electrostimulation) stimuli.
Start and end date
2019 - 2021
Project managers
Dr. Gianluca Vadalà - Coordinator
Prof. Rocco Papalia
Prof. Vincenzo Denaro
Coordinating institution of the project
Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
Funding source
ON Foundation Pilot Grant