Monosodium iodoacetate induces Cartilage degradation and inflammation in rats in a dose- and time-dependent manner

Abstract

Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) is a widely recognized agent for inducing cartilage degradation and inflammation in animal models. In this study, we systematically investigated the dose- and time-dependent effects of MIA on cartilage degradation in the knees of rats. We evaluated knee diameter, knee bend score, and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and IL-8) and cartilage degradation markers (CTX-II) to gain insights into cartilage damage and inflammation progression. Wistar rats were categorized into groups receiving various doses of MIA via intra-articular injection (0.1 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 3 mg, and 5 mg) and were observed at multiple time intervals (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks). We measured knee diameter to gauge joint swelling, assigned knee bend scores to assess functional limitations, and analyzed synovial fluid samples for IL-1β, IL-8, and CTX-II levels. Our data show that low-dose MIA increases pain sensitivity, knee diameter, inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-8, and CTX-II levels, which progress slowly over 12 weeks. On the other hand, higher dosages of MIA caused cartilage deterioration after two weeks, followed by an increase in inflammatory cytokines. This research sheds light on MIA administration's dose- and time-dependent effects on cartilage breakdown and inflammation in rat knee joints. Analyzing knee diameter, knee bend score, IL-1β, IL-8, and CTX-II as evaluation parameters provides a multidimensional perspective of cartilage injury and inflammatory dynamics. These findings help us comprehend cartilage-related illnesses and have implications for future research on therapeutic approaches for cartilage disorders.