Effects of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells and Raloxifene on Articular Cartilage in Ovariectomized Rabbits

• Main Authors: Hui-Tzu Hsu, 許蕙子
• Other Authors: Chung Shih
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/33232445836734593019

碩士 === 國防醫學院 === 生物及解剖學研究所 === 97 === Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease in the world. OA is characterized by slowly progression of articular cartilage degradation. The cells of articular cartilage produce and maintain their surrounding extracellular matrix. Cartilage homeostasis relies on the controlled catabolism of matrix proteins, such as type II collagen and aggrecan, and replacement with new proteins, resulting in a balance between degradation and synthesis. With the onset of OA, the balance shifts toward degradation. OA is more prevalent in men than women before age 50. After menopause, the incidence of OA that affects multiple joint with greater severity, suggesting a chondro-protective effect of female sex hormone. Trauma accompany with estrogen deficiency postmenopause may possibly attribute to the severity of OA. In addition, bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transplantation and/or Raloxifene (selective estrogen receptor modulator) in the regeneration of cartilage defect during estrogen deficiency is still unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of Raloxifene and/or bone marrow stromal cells on trauma accompanied with estrogen deficiency-induced degradation of articular cartilage using ELISA assay and histological analysis. Six and nine weeks after transection of transverse meniscus ligament, serum type II collagen degradation marker—CTX-II increased as compared with control group. However, there was no significant difference in serum CTX-II between six　and nine weeks after trauma. Histological finding showed Raloxifene may have the therapeutic effect on the degradation of articular cartilage caused by transection of transverse meniscus ligament combined with OVX. In conclusion, BMSCs can significantly decrease the erosion of articular cartilage through the generation of GAG contents, and BMSCs can enhance the effect of Raloxifene in treating the erosion of articular cartilage.