Sunderajhan Sekar

Saturated fatty acids induce development of both metabolic syndrome and osteoarthritis in rats

The predominant saturated fatty acids (SFA) in human diets are lauric acid (LA, C12:0), myristic acid (MA, C14:0), palmitic acid (PA, C16:0) and stearic acid (SA, C18:0). The aim of this study was to investigate whether diets containing individual SFA together with excess simple carbohydrates induce osteoarthritis (OA)-like changes in knee joints and signs of metabolic syndrome in rats. Rats were given either a corn starch diet or a diet composed of simple carbohydrates together with 20% LA, MA, PA, SA or beef tallow for 16 weeks. Rats fed beef tallow, SA, MA or PA diets developed signs of metabolic syndrome, and also exhibited cartilage degradation and subchondral bone changes similar to OA. In contrast, replacement of beef tallow with LA decreased signs of metabolic syndrome together with decreased cartilage degradation. Furthermore, PA and SA but not LA increased release of matrix sulphated proteoglycans in cultures of bovine cartilage explants or human chondrocytes. In conclusion, we have shown that longer-chain dietary SFA in rats induce both metabolic syndrome and OA-like knee changes. Thus, diets containing SFA are strongly relevant to the development or prevention of both OA and metabolic syndrome.

Obesity-associated metabolic syndrome spontaneously induces infiltration of pro-inflammatory macrophage in synovium and promotes osteoarthritis

Objectives Epidemiological and experimental studies have established obesity to be an important risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), however, the mechanisms underlying this link remains largely unknown. Here, we studied local inflammatory responses in metabolic-OA. Methods Wistar rats were fed with control diet (CD) and high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (HCHF) for period of 8 and 16 weeks. After euthanasia, the knees were examined to assess the articular cartilage changes and inflammation in synovial membrane. Further IHC was conducted to determine the macrophage-polarization status of the synovium. In addition, CD and HCHF synovial fluid was co-cultured with bone marrow-derived macrophages to assess the effect of synovial fluid inflammation on macrophage polarisation. Results Our study showed that, obesity induced by a high-carbohydrate, high-fat (HCHF) diet is associated with spontaneous and local inflammation of the synovial membranes in rats even before the cartilage degradation. This was followed by increased synovitis and increased macrophage infiltration into the synovium and a predominant elevation of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages. In addition, bone marrow derived macrophages, cultured with synovial fluid collected from the knees of obese rats exhibited a pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype. Conclusion Our study demonstrate a strong association between obesity and a dynamic immune response locally within synovial tissues. Furthermore, we have also identified synovial resident macrophages to play a vital role in the inflammation caused by the HCHF diet. Therefore, future therapeutic strategies targeted at the synovial macrophage phenotype may be the key to break the link between obesity and OA.

Dietary Fats and Osteoarthritis: Insights, Evidences, and New Horizons

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive, age‐related disease characterized by the degradation of the cartilage, abnormal bone remodeling, and joint pain eventually leading to disability. The occurrence of clinically diagnosed OA and the incidence of disability show geographic variations, which suggests that lifestyle and factors such as diet play a vital role in the formation and progression of OA. Obesity is associated with a state of low‐grade inflammation and increased plasma concentrations of fatty acids such as the saturated fatty acids (SFA). Importantly, obesity is a major risk factor for the development of OA in both weight‐bearing and non‐weight‐bearing joints. Further, obese individuals bear the full brunt of OA which poses a huge health, social and economic problem, and hence it is essential to increase our understanding of OA and obesity to improve patient care and decrease disease progression. Hence, the current state of knowledge on the relationship between obesity and OA is reviewed, especially the influence of different diets. In particular, we emphasize the role and mechanisms of SFA to cause or worsen OA. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 453–463, 2017.