Protective effects of equol on the cartilage and subchondral bone in ovariectomized rats with osteoarthritis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, 063000, China

2 School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, 063000, China

3 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Emergency General Hospital, Beijing, 100028, China

Abstract

Objective(s): This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effect of equol (EQ) on osteoporotic osteoarthritis (OP OA). 
Materials and Methods: Thirty-six 12-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group, OP OA group, and EQ group (n=12). OP OA was induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) combined with ovariectomy (OVX). EQ was orally administrated (10 μg/g/day) after the operation for 12 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated by gross pathology and histopathologic evaluation. The underlying mechanism was investigated by immunohistochemical analysis, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. 
Results: EQ effectively retarded cartilage degeneration, decreased the levels of matrix metalloproteinases-13 (MMP-13), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS-5), nuclear factor-kappa B P65 (NF-κB P65) and caspase-3, and increased the levels of collagen type II (Col-II), Col-I, aggrecan (AGG), and inhibitor of NF-κB α (IκBα) in the cartilage. In addition, EQ increased bone mineral density, improved the microstructural parameters of the subchondral bone (SB), and decreased the number of osteoclasts. 
Conclusion: EQ exerted a chondroprotective effect on OP OA in rats, associated with inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway and chondrocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, EQ showed an osteoprotective effect on SB via inhibiting osteoclastic activities.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 25, Issue 10
October 2022
Pages 1228-1233

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