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Probiotics Inhibit Cartilage Damage and Progression of Osteoarthritis in Mice
Antonia Sophocleous1,2, Asim Azfer2, Carmen Huesa3
1Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Abstract:
Increasing interest has focussed on the possible role of alterations in the microbiome in the pathogenesis of metabolic disease, inflammatory disease, and osteoporosis. Here we examined the role of the microbiome in a preclinical model of osteoarthritis in mice subjected to destabilisation of medical meniscus (DMM). The intestinal microbiome was depleted by broad-spectrum antibiotics from 1 week before birth until the age of 6 weeks when mice were subjected reconstitution of the microbiome with faecal microbial transplant (FMT) followed by the administration of a mixture of probiotic strains Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and L. plantarum HEAL19 or vehicle. All mice were subjected to DMM at the age of 8 weeks. The severity of osteoarthritis was evaluated by histological analysis and effects on subchondral bone were investigated by microCT analyses. The combination of FMT and probiotics significantly inhibited cartilage damage at the medial femoral condyle such that the OARSI score was 4.64 ± 0.32 (mean ± sem) in the FMT and probiotic group compared with 6.48 ± 0.53 in the FMT and vehicle group (p = 0.007). MicroCT analysis of epiphyseal bone from the femoral condyle showed that the probiotic group had higher BV/TV, increased Tb.Th, and moderately thicker subchondral bone plates than the control group. There was no difference between groups in joint inflammation or in serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. We conclude that treatment with probiotics following FMT in mice where the microbiome has been depleted inhibits DMM-induced cartilage damage and impacts on the structure of subchondral bone particularly at the femoral condyle. While further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of action, our research suggests that these probiotics may represent a novel intervention for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Insights
This study shows that probiotics can reduce cartilage damage and improve bone structure in a mouse model of osteoarthritis. These findings suggest probiotics may be a new treatment for osteoarthritis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Osteoarthritis pathogenesis
- Probiotic interventions
Background:
- Growing evidence links microbiome alterations to metabolic, inflammatory, and bone diseases.
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease with complex etiologies.
- The role of the gut microbiome in OA development requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of microbiome modulation and probiotic administration on OA development in a preclinical mouse model.
- To assess the effects of specific probiotic strains on cartilage damage and subchondral bone structure following destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM).
Main Methods:
- Mice underwent intestinal microbiome depletion via antibiotics from before birth to 6 weeks of age.
- Microbiome reconstitution was achieved through fecal microbial transplant (FMT), followed by administration of a probiotic mixture (Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9, L. plantarum HEAL19) or vehicle.
- Osteoarthritis severity was evaluated using histological analysis and microcomputed tomography (microCT) of subchondral bone after DMM surgery at 8 weeks of age.
Main Results:
- Probiotic treatment significantly inhibited cartilage damage in the medial femoral condyle (OARSI score 4.64 vs. 6.48 in vehicle group, p=0.007).
- MicroCT analysis revealed improved bone structure in the probiotic group, including higher bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th).
- No significant differences were observed in joint inflammation or serum inflammatory cytokine levels between groups.
Conclusions:
- Probiotic administration following FMT in microbiome-depleted mice effectively inhibits DMM-induced cartilage damage.
- These probiotics positively impact subchondral bone structure, particularly at the femoral condyle.
- The findings suggest a potential novel therapeutic role for these probiotics in osteoarthritis management, warranting further mechanistic studies.
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