AIMS

To evaluate the effect of ultrasound-targeted simvastatin-loaded microbubble destruction (UTMD ) for alleviation of the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) in rabbits through modulation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARγ).

METHODS

In vitro, OA chondrocytes were treated with ultrasound (US), US-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD), simvastatin (SV), and UTMD on alternate days for four weeks. Chondrocytes were also treated with PPARγ inhibitor, PPARγ inhibitor+ UTMD , and UTMD . The cholesterol efflux rate and triglyceride levels were measured using an assay kit and oil red O staining, respectively. In vivo, the OA rabbits were treated with a single intra-articular injection of UTMD, SV, and UTMD every seven days for four weeks. Cartilage histopathology was assessed by safranin-O staining and the Mankin score. Total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in rabbit knee synovial fluid were detected by enzyme-marker assay. Aggrecan, collagen II, and PPARγ expression levels were analyzed by Western blotting (WB).

RESULTS

In vitro, UTMD significantly increased the cholesterol efflux rate and aggrecan, collagen II, and PPARγ levels in OA chondrocytes; these effects were blocked by the PPARγ inhibitor. In vivo, UTMD significantly increased aggrecan, collagen II, PPARγ, and HDL-C levels, while TC levels and Mankin scores were decreased compared with the UTMD, SV, OA, and control groups.

CONCLUSION

UTMD promotes cartilage extracellular matrix synthesis by modulating the PPARγ-mediated cholesterol efflux pathway in OA rabbits. Cite this article:  2021;10(10):693-703.