Objective: This study was to use adenoviral vector-mediated nuclear factor-kappaBp65 (NF-kappaBp65)-specific siRNA (Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65)) to suppress the progression of early osteoarthritis (OA) in rat model, and therefore to explore a new gene therapy for OA.
Methods: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to confirm the silencing effect of Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) in cultured rat chondrocytes. Transection of the medial collateral ligament plus partial medial meniscectomy was operated in the knee of rats to establish OA model. Histological analysis was made to assess the morphological change of cartilage and synovium, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was made to measure the expression of cytokines, such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), in synovial fluid. The silencing effect of Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) on NF-kappaBp65 in cartilage and synovium of knee was measured with Western blot and the activation of NF-kappaB was measured with electrophoretic mobility shift assays.
Results: Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) can inhibit the activation of NF-kappaB and the expression of NF-kappaBp65 in cartilage and synovium of the knee, restrain the induction of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in synovial fluid, alleviate the inflammation of synovium and reduce the degradation of cartilage in early phase of experimental OA.
Conclusions: Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) can suppress the progression of the early experimental OA which suggests that Ad-siRNA(NF-kappaBp65) has potential to be a useful preventive and therapeutic agent for OA.