Hyaluronic Acid and Steroids: Effects on Equine Cartilage Cells

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of wastage in the equine industry, especially considering that an estimated 81% of the 9.3 million horses in America are involved in equitation and performance. A mainstay treatment for OA is the use of
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of wastage in the equine industry, especially considering that an estimated 81% of the 9.3 million horses in America are involved in equitation and performance. A mainstay treatment for OA is the use of intra-articular (IA) injection of hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids. The 2009 American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) convention, held Dec. 5-9 in Las Vegas, Nev., included a presentation by Elysia Schaefer, DVM, a surgery resident at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, on the in vitro (outside the live animal’s body) effects of hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids on cartilage cells subjected to inflammatory conditions.

Molecules called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in cartilage help it resist compressive forces in the joint as a horse bears weight and, thus, help protect against osteoarthritis. When GAGs bind to proteins, they’re called proteoglycans. She began by reviewing that corticosteroids exert anti-inflammatory effects, while hyaluronic acid (HA) plays a role in joint lubrication and is a key component of articular cartilage as the backbone of proteoglycans (GAGs) within the joint.

The study proceeded with the hypothesis that administering HA (Hylartin-V) alone or in combination with the steroid betamethasone could mitigate osteoarthritis. Investigators collected normal cartilage cells from fetlock joints, grew them in culture, and on Day 7 they added interleukin-1 (a deleterious protein) to induce inflammation, along with treatment medications.

Investigators analyzed inflamed cartilage cells 24 hours later, determining that high molecular weight HA at a high dose is beneficial for GAG synthesis and retention of proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix to maintain hydrostatic pressure. This resistance to compression forces mitigates the progression of osteoarthritis

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Written by:

Nancy S. Loving, DVM, owns Loving Equine Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, and has a special interest in managing the care of sport horses. Her book, All Horse Systems Go, is a comprehensive veterinary care and conditioning resource in full color that covers all facets of horse care. She has also authored the books Go the Distance as a resource for endurance horse owners, Conformation and Performance, and First Aid for Horse and Rider in addition to many veterinary articles for both horse owner and professional audiences.

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