In a rat monoiodoacetic acid (MIA)-induced arthritis model, the amount of MIA commonly used was too high, resulting in rapid bone destruction. We examined the effect of MIA concentrations on articular cartilage and infrapatellar fat pad (IFP). We also established an original system for "macroscopic cartilage and bone score" and "IFP inflammation score" specific to the rat MIA-induced arthritis model. Male Wistar rats received a single intra-articular injection of MIA in the knee. The amount of MIA was 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1 mg respectively. Articular cartilage was evaluated at 2-12 weeks. IFP was also observed at 3-14 days. Macroscopically, low MIA doses induced punctate depressions on the cartilage surface, and cartilage erosion proceeded slowly over 12 weeks, while higher MIA doses already induced cartilage erosion at 2 weeks, followed by bone destruction. MIA macroscopic cartilage and bone score, OARSI histological score, and Mankin score increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IFP inflammation score peaked at 5 days in low dose groups, then decreased, while in high dose groups, the IFP score continued to increase over 14 days due to IFP fibrosis. Punctate depressions, cartilage erosion, and bone destruction were observed in the MIA-induced arthritis model. The macroscopic cartilage and bone scoring enabled the quantification of cartilage degeneration and demonstrated that MIA-induced arthritis progressed in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IFP inflammation scores revealed that 0.2 mg MIA induced reversible synovitis, while 1 mg MIA induced fibrosis of the IFP body.

The induction of synovial tissue to the meniscal lesion is crucial for meniscal healing. Synovial Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive cell source because of their high proliferative and chondrogenic potentials. We examined whether transplantation of synovial MSCs promoted healing after meniscal repair of extended longitudinal tear of avascular area in a microminipig model. Longitudinal tear lesion was made in medial menisci and sutured in both knees, and then a synovial MSC suspension was administered for 10 min only in unilateral knee. The sutured meniscus was evaluated morphologically and biomechanically at 2, 4, and 12 weeks. The behavior of transplanted MSCs was also examined. The meniscal healing at 12 weeks was significantly better in the MSC group than in the control group; macroscopically, histologically and by T1rho mapping analysis. Transmission electron microscopic analysis demonstrated that the meniscus lesion was occupied by dense collagen fibrils only in the MSC group. Biomechanical analysis revealed that the tensile strength to failure of the meniscus higher in the MSC group than in the control group in each microminipig. Synovial tissue covered better along the superficial layer from the outer zone into the lesion of the meniscus in the MSC group at 2 and 4 weeks in each microminipig. Synovial MSCs labeled with ferucarbotran were detected in the meniscus lesion and adjacent synovium by MRI at 2 weeks. Transplantation of synovial MSCs promoted healing after meniscal repair with induction of synovium into the longitudinal tear in the avascular zone of meniscus in pigs.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease in aging societies, which is accompanied by chronic inflammation and degeneration of the joint structure. Inflammation of the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) and synovial membrane (IFP surface) plays essential roles in persistent pain development in patients with OA. To identify the point during the inflammatory process critical for persistent pain development, we performed a time course histological analysis in a rat arthritis model. Wistar rats received single intra-articular injection of monoiodoacetic acid (MIA, 0.2 or 1.0 mg/30 μL) in the right knees or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, 30 μL) as a control in the left knees. Pain avoidance behaviors (weight-bearing asymmetry and tactile hypersensitivity of the plantar surface of the hind paw) were evaluated on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 after injection. Histological assessments of the knee joint were performed on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 after MIA injection. Weight-bearing asymmetry was observed along with the onset of acute inflammation in both the low- (0.2 mg) and high-dose (1.0 mg) groups. In the low-dose group, weight-bearing asymmetry was completely reversed on day 10, indicating that joint pain seemed to alleviate between days 7 and 10. In contrast, we observed persistent joint pain after day 10 in the high-dose group. Histological assessments of the high-dose group indicated that the initial sign of inflammatory responses was observed in the perivascular region inside the IFP. Inflammatory cell infiltration from the perivascular region to the parenchymal region of the IFP was observed on day 3 and reached the IFP surface (synovial membrane) on day 7. Extensive fibrosis throughout the IFP was observed between days 5 and 7 after MIA injection. Our data indicated that acute joint pain occurs along with the onset of acute inflammatory process. Irreversible structural changes in the IFP, such as extensive fibrosis, are observed prior to persistent pain development. Thus, we consider that this process may play important roles in persistent pain development.

Background: We have developed 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis software that allows measurement of the projected cartilage area ratio with a particular thickness intended to allow quantitation of the cartilage in the knee. Our aims in this study were to validate the projected cartilage area ratio in both pig and human knees and to examine the ratio in patients reporting knee pain. Methods: After 3D MRI reconstruction, the femoral cartilage was projected onto a flat surface. The projected cartilage area was determined in pig knees using our 3D MRI analysis software, and was compared with the area obtained with other software. The projected cartilage area ratio (for cartilage thickness ≥1.5 mm) at 4 segments was also validated in human knees. Finally, changes in the projected cartilage area ratio were examined in 8 patients with knee pain who had undergone 2 MR images at 3 to 21-month intervals. Results: The projected cartilage areas determined with our 3D MRI analysis software were validated in pig knees. The projected cartilage area ratio at each segment in human knees had an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.87 to 0.99 (n = 16) between readers and 0.76 to 0.99 (n = 20) between measurements on repeat MR images. The projected cartilage area ratio (for cartilage thickness ≥1.5 mm) at the most affected segment in 8 human patients significantly decreased between the pairs of MR images obtained at intervals of 3 to 21 months. Conclusions: We proposed a novel evaluation method using 3D MRI to quantify the amount of cartilage in the knee. This method had a low measurement error in both pig and human knees. Clinical Relevance: The projected cartilage area ratio based on a particular thickness may serve as a sensitive method for assessing changes in cartilage over time.