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Arthritis Research & Therapy
Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Vitamin D attenuates inflammation, fatty infiltration, and cartilage loss in the knee of hyperlipidemic microswine

Authors: Vikrant Rai, Nicholas E. Dietz, Matthew F. Dilisio, Mohamed M. Radwan, Devendra K. Agrawal

Published in: Arthritis Research & Therapy | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint is a degenerative process resulting in cartilage loss. Recent evidence suggests that OA is not merely a disease of cartilage but a disease of the entire knee joint and that inflammation may play an important role. OA has been associated with vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D as an immunomodulator and anti-inflammatory agent may attenuate inflammation in the knee. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin D on inflammation in the knee.

Methods

This study was conducted with 13 microswine on a high cholesterol diet categorized into three groups of vitamin D-deficient, vitamin D-sufficient, and vitamin D supplementation. After 1 year, microswine were killed, and their knee joint tissues were harvested. Histological and immunofluorescence studies were carried out on the tissue specimens to evaluate the effect of vitamin D status.

Results

Histological and immunofluorescence studies of the knee joint tissues showed (1) increased inflammation in the knee joint tissues, (2) fatty infiltration in quadriceps muscle, patellar tendon, and collateral ligaments, and (3) chondrocyte clustering in the vitamin D-deficient and vitamin D-sufficient groups compared with the vitamin D supplementation group. Architectural distortion of the quadriceps muscle, patellar tendon, and collateral ligaments was also seen in the areas of inflammatory foci and fatty infiltration in the vitamin D-deficient group.

Conclusions

Decreased inflammation and fatty infiltration in the vitamin D supplementation group suggest the potential role of vitamin D in attenuating inflammation and fatty infiltration as well as in protecting the architecture of the tissue in the knee joint.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Vitamin D attenuates inflammation, fatty infiltration, and cartilage loss in the knee of hyperlipidemic microswine
Authors
Vikrant Rai
Nicholas E. Dietz
Matthew F. Dilisio
Mohamed M. Radwan
Devendra K. Agrawal
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Arthritis Research & Therapy / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1478-6362
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-016-1099-6

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