Research: Potential Biomarkers Located For Equine Osteoarthritis

New research suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) found in blood and synovial fluid may be able to be used as biomarkers to evaluate joint health, reports Equine Science Update. MiRNAs regulate inflammation, cartilage degradation, extracellular matrix remodeling and more.

Dr. Joshua Antunes of the Ontario Veterinary College created a small study that compared the miRNA levels in both healthy and diseased joints. The research team examined the synovial fluid and blood of five horses with OA, five horses with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and four horses who were healthy.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disease in older horses and in those horses with an athletic career. OA causes the deterioration of cartilage, bone and the synovial membrane of joints; inflammation is a key component of the painful disease.

The team found 57 miRNAs with a different expression in OA plasma and 45 miRNAs with a different expression in OCD plasma compared with the control group.

The team suggested that miRNAs could be used as joint health biomarkers, but additional research is needed. The use of miRNAs as diagnostic tools and therapies for OA could also be an option, they noted.

Read more at Equine Science Update.