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Background: Micro-RNAs could provide great insights about the neuropathological mechanisms associated with osteoarthritis (OA) pain processing. Using the validated Montreal Induction of Rat Arthritis Testing (MIRAT) model, this study aimed to characterize neuroepigenetic markers susceptible to correlate with innovative pain functional phenotype and targeted neuropeptide alterations. Methods: Functional biomechanical, somatosensory sensitization (peripheral--via tactile paw withdrawal threshold; central--via response to mechanical temporal summation), and diffuse noxious inhibitory control (via conditioned pain modulation) alterations were assessed sequentially in OA (n = 12) and Naïve (n = 12) rats. Joint structural, targeted spinal neuropeptides and differential expression of spinal cord micro-RNAs analyses were conducted at the sacrifice (day (D) 56). Results: The MI-RAT model caused important structural damages (reaching 35.77% of cartilage surface) compared to the Naïve group (P < 0.001). This was concomitantly associated with nociceptive sensitization: ipsilateral weight shift to the contralateral hind limb (asymmetry index) from -55.61% ± 8.50% (D7) to -26.29% ± 8.50% (D35) (P < 0.0001); mechanical pain hypersensitivity was present as soon as D7 and persisting until D56 (P < 0.008); central sensitization was evident at D21 (P = 0.038); pain endogenous inhibitory control was distinguished with higher conditioned pain modulation rate (P < 0.05) at D7, D21, and D35 as a reflect of filtrated pain perception. Somatosensory profile alterations of OA rats were translated in a persistent elevation of pro-nociceptive neuropeptides substance P and bradykinin, along with an increased expression of spinal miR-181b (P = 0.029) at D56. Conclusion: The MI-RAT OA model is associated, not only with structural lesions and static weight-bearing alterations, but also with a somatosensory profile that encompasses pain centralized sensitization, associated to active endogenous inhibitory/facilitatory controls, and corresponding neuropeptidomic and neuroepigenetic alterations. This preliminary neuroepigenetic research confirms the crucial role of pain endogenous inhibitory control in the development of OA chronic pain (not only hypersensitivity) and validates the MI-RAT model for its study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Simple Summary: Feline osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis depends greatly on owner perception and experience of the disease. Owners frequently consider the emergence of OA (delayed and severe) signs as "normal" for an aged cat. Being an incurable, progressive, degenerative process, OA will require life-long treatment. There is a need for a rapid, reliable, and inexpensive diagnostic tool that reveals feline OA pain. A refined scale, the Montreal Instrument for Cat Arthritis Testing, for Use by Veterinarians (MI-CAT(V)) presented remarkable metrological properties (specific, sensitive, and reliable) over its development and validation process. In particular, MI-CAT(V) was responsive to a treatment with firocoxib, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and discriminated four degrees of OA pain functional severity. Firocoxib presented a clear treatment effect based on the MI-CAT(V) and on other functional objective assessments, including possible dose-response. The NSAID was safe over the three-week daily administration tested period. The cluster repartition offers new perspective for an individualized treatment care. Veterinarians face the lack of a rapid, reliable, inexpensive, and treatment-sensitive metrological instrument reflecting feline osteoarthritis (OA) pain. The Montreal Instrument for Cat Arthritis Testing, for Use by Veterinarians (MI-CAT(V)) has been refined in 4 sub-sections, and we proposed its concurrent validation. Cats naturally affected by OA (n = 32) were randomly distributed into 4 groups of firocoxib analgesic (Gr. A: 0.40; B: 0.25; C: 0.15, and P: 0.00 mg/kg bodyweight). They were assessed during Baseline, Treatment, and Recovery periods using MI-CAT(V) and objective outcomes (effort path, stairs assay compliance, and actimetry). The MI-CAT(V) total score correlated to the effort path and actimetry (RhoS = −0.501 to −0.453; p < 0.001), also being sensitive to treatment responsiveness. The pooled treatment group improved its total, gait, and body posture scores during Treatment compared to the Baseline, Recovery, and placebo group (p < 0.05). The MI-CAT(V) suggested a dose-(especially for Gr. B) and cluster-response. Cats in the moderate and severe MI-CAT(V) clusters responded to firocoxib with a remaining analgesic effect, while the mild cluster seemed less responsive and experienced a negative rebound effect. The MI-CAT(V) was validated for its OA pain severity discriminatory abilities and sensitivity to firocoxib treatment, providing a new perspective for individualized care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterinarians face the lack of a rapid, reliable, inexpensive, and treatment-sensitive metrological instrument reflecting feline osteoarthritis (OA) pain. The Montreal Instrument for Cat Arthritis Testing, for Use by Veterinarians (MI-CAT(V)) has been refined in 4 sub-sections, and we proposed its concurrent validation. Cats naturally affected by OA ( n = 32) were randomly distributed into 4 groups of firocoxib analgesic (Gr. A: 0.40; B: 0.25; C: 0.15, and P: 0.00 mg/kg bodyweight). They were assessed during Baseline, Treatment, and Recovery periods using MI-CAT(V) and objective outcomes (effort path, stairs assay compliance, and actimetry). The MI-CAT(V) total score correlated to the effort path and actimetry (Rho S = -0.501 to -0.453; p < 0.001), also being sensitive to treatment responsiveness. The pooled treatment group improved its total, gait, and body posture scores during Treatment compared to the Baseline, Recovery, and placebo group ( p < 0.05). The MI-CAT(V) suggested a dose-(especially for Gr. B) and cluster-response. Cats in the moderate and severe MI-CAT(V) clusters responded to firocoxib with a remaining analgesic effect, while the mild cluster seemed less responsive and experienced a negative rebound effect. The MI-CAT(V) was validated for its OA pain severity discriminatory abilities and sensitivity to firocoxib treatment, providing a new perspective for individualized care.