Cyclic loading regime considered beneficial does not protect injured and interleukin-1-inflamed cartilage from post-traumatic osteoarthritis
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis is a degenerative musculoskeletal condition where homeostasis of articular cartilage is perturbated by lesions and inflammation, leading to abnormal tissue-level loading. These mechanisms have rarely been included simultaneously in in vitro osteoarthritis models. We modeled the early disease progression in bovine cartilage regulated by the coaction of (1) mechanical injury, (2) pro-inflammatory interleukin-1 challenge, and (3) cyclic loading mimicking walking and considered beneficial (15% strain, 1 Hz). Surprisingly, cyclic loading did not protect cartilage from accelerated glycosaminoglycan loss over 12 days of interleukin-1-culture despite promoting aggrecan biosynthesis. Our time-dependent data suggest that this loading regime could be beneficial in the first days following injury but later turn detrimental in interleukin-1-inflamed cartilage. Consequently, early anti-catabolic drug intervention may inhibit, whereas cyclic loading during chronic inflammation may promote osteoarthritis progression. Our data on the early stages of post-traumatic osteoarthritis could be utilized in the development of countermeasures for disease progression.