Abstract
Murine osteoarthritis (OA) models are important for exploring OA pathology and treatment in the pre-clinical study. Longitudinal <i>in vivo</i> imaging modalities, including X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, are commonly used diagnostic tools in OA clinic, while end-point histomorphometry analysis is the major outcome measurement in pre-clinical study because clinical imaging modalities have limited resolution for small animals. Thus, developing new longitudinal <i>in vivo</i> imaging protocols for murine models of OA is a critical unmet need. Here, commonly used post-traumatic murine models of OA and the utilization of X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging techniques to monitor disease progression and treatment response in these models is reviewed. Then ultrasound (US) imaging, a widely used and cost-efficient tool, in arthritis clinic and its utilization in knee OA of patients is introduced. Finally, our experience of using US imaging in normal and OA mouse knees is described to demonstrate the feasibility of US as a new imaging tool to measure disease progression longitudinally.
Highlights
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects millions of adults worldwide [1]
Murine osteoarthritis (OA) models are important for exploring OA pathology and treatment in the pre-clinical study
Our group applied US scan on joints of TNF-transgenic mice, a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and demonstrated that both joint space volume and power doppler (PD) volume can be used as outcome measures of joint inflammation and active synovitis [10,11]
Summary
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that affects millions of adults worldwide [1]. OA is a whole joint disease involving cartilage, subchondral bone and synovial soft tissue [2]. Our own experience using US imaging modality in mouse OA joints is described, and the possibility to use longitudinal US as a new approach to quantify joint soft tissue changes in a mouse model of OA is discussed.
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