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Updated: May 27, 2025
Software-Assisted Quantitative Measurement of Osteoarthritic Subchondral Bone Thickness
Published on: March 18, 2022
Diallyl disulfide knee joint injection protects against the early pathologic changes of articular cartilage and
Qizhao Tan1,2, Zhongwei Yang1,2, Zhenda Zhao1
1Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
Background:
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint is a prevalent joint disease that affects most aging individuals worldwide. An extract of garlic oil, diallyl disulfide (DADS), reportedly protects chondrocytes in vitro, with limited data available on its in vivo OA effects. We explored the efficacy of DADS in ovariectomy (OVX)-induced OA rats.
Methods:
In this study, thirty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Twenty-three rats underwent a bilateral OVX and the remaining rats underwent a sham procedure. Six weeks post-surgery, five OVX rats and five SHAM rats were sacrificed. The histological methods and micro-CT were used to assess the success of the OVX-OA model. Meanwhile, six OVX rats were administered 100ul hydrogel and these rats were defined as the OVX + Vehicle group. Six OVX rats received 100ul hydrogel with 50 mg/mL DADS once, while another six OVX rats received 100ul hydrogel with 500 mg/mL DADS once, both by a single knee joint injection. The remaining SHAM rats received a single knee joint injection of equivalent saline. Four weeks post-administration, the bone mineral density (BMD) and subchondral trabecular microstructure were measured. Cartilage erosion was assessed by histological observation, while type II collagen (CII), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 in articular cartilage, and osteopontin (OPN) in subchondral bone by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
At six weeks after OVX, there was significant cartilage erosion and more bone loss in the OVX rats than the sham rats. At ten weeks post-surgery, DADS hydrogel significantly increased BMD and suppressed subchondral bone trabecular loss caused by OVX. Furthermore, DADS significantly rescued cartilage erosion and improved cartilage metabolism by decreasing MMP-13 and increasing CII expressions. Moreover, OPN expression increased in the OVX + Vehicle group than SHAM group; DADS inhibited this increase.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that DADS retards early OA progression in an OVX-OA rat model by improving cartilage metabolism and preventing the deterioration of subchondral bone microstructure, presenting a potential agent for ameliorating postmenopausal OA progression.
Insights
Diallyl disulfide (DADS) from garlic oil shows promise in treating osteoarthritis. This study found DADS improved cartilage health and bone density in an osteoarthritis rat model, suggesting it may slow disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread degenerative joint disease, particularly affecting the knee in aging populations.
- Diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic oil compound, has demonstrated chondroprotective effects in vitro, but its in vivo efficacy for OA remains under-investigated.
- This study investigates the therapeutic potential of DADS in a rat model of ovariectomy (OVX)-induced knee OA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of DADS in an ovariectomy (OVX)-induced rat model of knee osteoarthritis.
- To assess the impact of DADS on cartilage integrity, bone mineral density, and subchondral bone microstructure.
- To determine the effects of DADS on key molecular markers of cartilage metabolism and bone remodeling.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent either OVX or sham surgery to establish an OA model.
- DADS was administered via intra-articular hydrogel injection at concentrations of 50 mg/mL and 500 mg/mL.
- Bone mineral density, subchondral bone microstructure, cartilage erosion, and expression of type II collagen (CII), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), and osteopontin (OPN) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- OVX rats exhibited significant cartilage erosion and bone loss compared to sham controls.
- DADS treatment significantly increased bone mineral density and preserved subchondral bone microstructure in OVX rats.
- DADS administration effectively reduced cartilage erosion, increased CII expression, and decreased MMP-13 levels, indicating improved cartilage metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Diallyl disulfide (DADS) effectively ameliorates early-stage osteoarthritis progression in an OVX-induced rat model.
- DADS demonstrates therapeutic potential by enhancing cartilage metabolism and preventing subchondral bone deterioration.
- These findings suggest DADS as a promising agent for managing postmenopausal osteoarthritis.
