Radiation Decreases Bone Density while Diabetes Increases Osteoarthritis in Non-Human Primates.
Nequesha S Mohamed1,2, Nicole A Gagnon3, Johannes F Plate4
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Radiation Research
|August 1, 2025
Summary
Radiation exposure decreased bone mineralization but did not increase osteoarthritis in primates. Diabetes, however, worsened joint health and increased bone mineralization, suggesting it contributes to joint degeneration.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Endocrinology
- Radiology
Background:
- Total-body irradiation can lead to long-term joint damage, including osteoarthritis, particularly in individuals with diabetes.
- Assessing radiation-induced joint damage and metabolic changes in humans is difficult, necessitating the use of non-human primate models for longitudinal studies.
- Osteoarthritis development is influenced by factors like bone mineral density and arthropathy, which can be affected by radiation and diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of radiation exposure on joint health and bone mineral density in non-human primates.
- To examine how diabetes mellitus influences the development and progression of osteoarthritis in irradiated and non-irradiated primates.
- To compare the effects of radiation and diabetes on bone structure, mineralization, and joint degeneration.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 201 rhesus macaques (163 irradiated, 38 controls), with 24 animals having diabetes.
- Assessed osteoarthritis in multiple joints (knees, hips, shoulders, spine) and analyzed proximal humeral length and bone mineralization in sub-cohorts.
- Utilized imaging and densitometry techniques to quantify bone mineral density, cortical volume, and humeral length.
Main Results:
- Osteoarthritis was more prevalent in diabetic primates across all assessed joints, and radiation exposure did not correlate with increased osteoarthritis.
- Irradiated primates exhibited reduced cortical volume, lower bone mineral density (cortical and trabecular), and shorter humeral length.
- Diabetic primates showed increased cortical volume and bone mineral density, with no significant change in trabecular bone mineral density or humeral length.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes mellitus appears to be a significant factor in joint degeneration and increased bone mineralization, independent of radiation exposure.
- Radiation exposure negatively impacts bone structure and mineralization but does not directly increase the incidence of osteoarthritis in this primate model.
- These findings highlight the distinct effects of radiation and diabetes on skeletal and joint health, providing a basis for further research into underlying mechanisms.
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