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Spaceflight and hind limb unloading induces an arthritic phenotype in knee articular cartilage and menisci of rodents

Authors :
Samuel Rosas
Li Tan
Johannes F. Plate
Mary L. Bouxsein
Michael D. Delp
David C. Zawieja
Raghunatha R. Yammani
Virginia L. Ferguson
Jingyun Lee
Cristina M. Furdui
Louis S. Stodieck
Nequesha S. Mohamed
Xiao Wen Mao
Bethany A. Kerr
Ted A. Bateman
Joseph E. Moore
Andy Kwok
Eric W. Livingston
Jeffrey S. Willey
Source :
Scientific Reports, Scientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-17 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021.

Abstract

Reduced knee weight-bearing from prescription or sedentary lifestyles are associated with cartilage degradation; effects on the meniscus are unclear. Rodents exposed to spaceflight or hind limb unloading (HLU) represent unique opportunities to evaluate this question. This study evaluated arthritic changes in the medial knee compartment that bears the highest loads across the knee after actual and simulated spaceflight, and recovery with subsequent full weight-bearing. Cartilage and meniscal degradation in mice were measured via microCT, histology, and proteomics and/or biochemically after: (1) ~ 35 days on the International Space Station (ISS); (2) 13-days aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis; or (3) 30 days of HLU, followed by a 49-day weight-bearing readaptation with/without exercise. Cartilage degradation post-ISS and HLU occurred at similar spatial locations, the tibial-femoral cartilage-cartilage contact point, with meniscal volume decline. Cartilage and meniscal glycosaminoglycan content were decreased in unloaded mice, with elevated catabolic enzymes (e.g., matrix metalloproteinases), and elevated oxidative stress and catabolic molecular pathway responses in menisci. After the 13-day Shuttle flight, meniscal degradation was observed. During readaptation, recovery of cartilage volume and thickness occurred with exercise. Reduced weight-bearing from either spaceflight or HLU induced an arthritic phenotype in cartilage and menisci, and exercise promoted recovery.

Details

ISSN :
20452322
Volume :
11
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Scientific Reports
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....d5191b4e8939a61c6810a666f235f922