184 - Animal models of osteoarthritis

Abstract

Limitations of tissue use from patients and the insidious nature of disease means that we are very dependent on animal models to help us study the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Many models have been developed over the years, but the most commonly used are those that induce disease through mechanical joint destabilization. Genetic modification in mice has heralded a significant uplift in the number of models used in OA research and has improved our understanding of this heterogeneous disease. The approach of using animal models is likely to be a good one, but the value of in vivo studies is significantly affected by quality of study design and publication bias.