Chicken collagen type II reduces articular cartilage destruction in a model of osteoarthritis in rats / Colágeno de pollo tipo ii reduce la destrucción del cartílago articular en un modelo de osteoartritis en ratas

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of domestic chicken collagen type II (CCII) on rat osteoarthritis (OA) and analyze concomitant changes in the level of Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, MMP-9, Cathepsin K and their mRNA as well as the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 mRNA in articular cartilage of osteoarthritic rats. METHODS: Osteoarthritis models were surgically induced. Morphology of articular cartilage was done by haematoxylin and eosin staining and Mankin score was calculated, immunohistochemistry of MMP-13, MMP-9 and Cathepsin K was done by ABC method while the mRNA level for MMP-13, MMP-9, cathepsin K as well as TIMP-1 was evaluated by RT-PCR method. RESULTS: Oral administration of CCII reduced the morphological changes of osteoarthritic cartilage (shown by Mankin score), decreased levels of MMP-13, MMP-9, cathepsin K as well as their mRNA in articular cartilage from osteoarthritic rats while it exhibited no effect on TIMP-1 mRNA. CONCLUSION: Oral CCII reduced articular cartilage degradation of osteoarthritic rats and may probably be a potent drug candidate for OA treatment.

Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos terapéuticos del colágeno de pollo doméstico de tipo II (CPII) en la osteoartritis de ratas (OA) y analizar los cambios concomitantes en el nivel de metaloproteinasa de la matriz (MMP-13). MMP-9, catepsina K y su mRNA, así como el inhibidor tisular de la metalopro-teinasa de la matriz (TIMP)-1 mRNA en el cartílago articular de ratas osteoartríticas. Métodos: Modelos osteoartríticos fueron obtenidos mediante inducción quirúrgica. La morfología del cartílago articular se realizó mediante tinción H-E, y se calculó la puntuación de Mankin. Se realizó la inmunohistoquímica de MMP-13, MMP-9 y catepsina K mediante el método ABC, en tanto que el nivel de mRNA para MMP-13, MMP-9, y catepsina K así como el TIMP-1, fue evaluado mediante el método RT-PCR. Resultados: La administración oral de CPII redujo los cambios morfológicos del cartílago osteo-artrítico (mostrado por la puntuación Mankin), disminuyó los niveles de MMP-13, MMP-9, catepsina K así como su mRNA en cartílago articular de las ratas osteoartríticas mientras que no mostró efecto sobre TIMP-1 mRNA. Conclusión: El CP oral redujo la degradación del cartílago articular de las ratas osteoartríticas y puede ser probablemente candidato a un medicamento potente para el tratamiento de la OA.

Recent advances in visceral leishmaniasis in China.

A review of major advances in investigations and laboratory work on visceral leishmaniasis in China is presented. In the eastern plain and northern mountainous regions, no new cases were detected, while sporadic appearance of the disease was noted in western mountain and desert regions. Considerable achievements were attained regarding epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis, experimental research on disease control in mountainous regions, sandfly control and elimination as well as immuno-diagnosis of the disease. Noticeable consequences were also obtained from the exploration on the problem of geographical strains and biochemical study of the parasite. The intervention measures in sporadically occurring visceral leishmaniasis in the western mountain and desert regions are discussed.