Regenerative Engineering Animal Models for Knee Osteoarthritis

Caldon Jayson Esdaille,Chinedu Cletus Ude,Cato T. Laurencin

doi:10.1007/s40883-021-00225-y

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common synovial joint disorder worldwide, with a growing incidence due to increasing rates of obesity and an aging population. A significant amount of research is currently being conducted to further our understanding of the pathophysiology of knee osteoarthritis to design less invasive and more effective treatment options once conservative management has failed. Regenerative engineering techniques have shown promising preclinical results in treating OA due to their innovative approaches and have emerged as a popular area of study. To investigate these therapeutics, animal models of OA have been used in preclinical trials. There are various mechanisms by which OA can be induced in the knee/stifle of animals that are classified by the etiology of the OA that they are designed to recapitulate. Thus, it is essential to utilize the correct animal model in studies that are investigating regenerative engineering techniques for proper translation of efficacy into clinical trials. This review discusses the various animal models of OA that may be used in preclinical regenerative engineering trials and the corresponding classification system.Lay SummaryOsteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is the most common synovial joint disease worldwide, with high rates of occurrence due to an increase in obesity and an aging population. A great deal of research is currently underway to further our understanding of the causes of osteoarthritis, to design more effective treatments. The emergence of regenerative engineering has provided physicians and investigators with unique opportunities to join ideas in tackling human diseases such as OA. Once the concept is proven to work, the initial procedure for the evaluation of a treatment solution begins with an animal model. Thus, it is essential to utilize a suitable animal model that reflects the particular ailment in regenerative engineering studies for proper translation to human patients as each model has associated advantages and disadvantages. There are various ways by which OA can occur in the knee joint, which are classified according to the particular cause of the OA. This review discusses the various animal models of OA that may be used in preclinical regenerative engineering investigations and the corresponding classification system.

Highlights

Regenerative engineering has recently emerged as a solution for complex clinical challenges with tremendous growth and expansion of the field in the last 25 years
We propose that post-traumatic OA models can be further divided into two subcategories: (1) surgically induced models where there is a direct injury to the joint using an invasive method and (2) dynamic models where OA is induced by using a noninvasive procedure involving a single or repetitive mechanical stimulus to produce an insult
Animal models of OA play a large role in the investigation of therapeutic techniques that employ tissue regeneration strategies by providing a preclinical model of disease

Summary

Introduction

Regenerative engineering has recently emerged as a solution for complex clinical challenges with tremendous growth and expansion of the field in the last 25 years. Surgical-induced animal models utilize invasive procedures to study the disease pathology of PTOA of the knee. Most of the surgically induced animal models focus on creating a mechanical disturbance of these tissues through alteration of tissues within the joint such as cruciate and/or collateral ligaments to promote the onset of disease [54].

Results

Conclusion