Study of Osteoarthritis Treatment with Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor and Steroids

Figure 4

In vivo gene expression of cartilage from mechanically loaded mouse knees. Cartilage of mechanically loaded knees after treatment with celecoxib (10 mg/kg) by gavage for 5 weeks demonstrated increased gene expression of anabolic markers CII and aggrecan as compared to a mechanically loaded knees of mice treated with saline alone “no drug” (a). The increase in aggrecan gene expression reached statistical significance (b). Treatment with celecoxib significantly decreased MMP-13 gene expression as compared to the “no drug” control (c) ( for each treatment group). The “no drug” group has been treated with TNF-α, but not celecoxib.

(a)

(b)

(c)