Investigating the role of interleukin-15 in post-traumatic osteoarthritis
Abstract
Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a degenerative joint disease, leading to articular cartilage breakdown, osteophytes, and synovitis, caused by an initial joint trauma. Pro-inflammatory cytokines increase catabolic activity and may perpetuate inflammation following joint trauma. Interleukin-15 (IL-15), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is increased in OA patients, although its exact role in the disease pathology is unknown. Using Il15 deficientrats, this study investigated the role of IL-15 in PTOA pathogenesis in an injury-induced model of OA. Semi-quantitative scoring of the articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and osteophyte formation reveals no significant difference between Il15 deficient rats and wild-type rats, following PTOA-induction. Similarly, synovitis scoring across 6 parameters found no significant difference between genetic variants. Overall, IL-15 does not appear to play a key role in PTOA pathogenesis in this model.