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Testing drugs on human osteoarthritic articular cartilage
J Chayen1, L Bitensky, S Mehdizadeh
1Unit of Cellular Pharmacology and Toxicology, Robens Institute of Health and Safety, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
Abstract:
New drugs are generally developed against animal models of the human disease. Before they are subjected to clinical trials it might be helpful to be able to test whether they are as effective against the disease in human tissue as they were in animals. It is proposed that this can be achieved by the use of organ maintenance culture of the human diseased tissue, the relevant biochemical parameters being measured by quantitative cytochemistry. In the present studies differences between the effect of indomethacin and of the 'chondroprotective' drug diclofenac sodium, on human osteoarthritic cartilage, have been measured.
Insights
Testing new drugs on human diseased tissue in organ culture could predict effectiveness before clinical trials. This study compared drug effects on osteoarthritic cartilage using quantitative cytochemistry.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research
- Pharmacology
- Tissue engineering
Background:
- Drug development often relies on animal models, which may not accurately predict human efficacy.
- Assessing drug effectiveness in human tissues prior to clinical trials is crucial for efficient drug development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of organ maintenance culture and quantitative cytochemistry for testing drug efficacy on human diseased tissue.
- To compare the effects of indomethacin and diclofenac sodium on human osteoarthritic cartilage in vitro.
Main Methods:
- Human osteoarthritic cartilage samples were maintained in organ culture.
- Quantitative cytochemistry was employed to measure biochemical parameters.
- The effects of indomethacin and diclofenac sodium were assessed and compared.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in the effects of indomethacin and diclofenac sodium on human osteoarthritic cartilage.
- Quantitative cytochemistry successfully measured drug-induced biochemical changes in the cultured tissue.
Conclusions:
- Organ maintenance culture combined with quantitative cytochemistry offers a viable method for preclinical drug testing on human diseased tissues.
- This approach can help predict drug efficacy in human tissues, potentially improving the drug development process for conditions like osteoarthritis.
