Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 activity in subchondral bone modifies a subtype of osteoarthritis

摘要

Osteoarthritis(OA) causes the destruction of joints. Its pathogenesis is still under investigation, and there is no effective diseasemodifying therapy. Here, we report that elevated cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) expression in the osteocytes of subchondral bone causes both spontaneous OA and rheumatoid arthritis(RA). The knockout of COX-2 in osteocytes or treatment with a COX-2 inhibitor effectively rescues the structure of subchondral bone and attenuates cartilage degeneration in spontaneous OA(STR/Ort)mice and tumor necrosis factor-α transgenic RA mice. Thus, elevated COX-2 expression in subchondral bone induces both OAassociated and RA-associated joint cartilage degeneration. The inhibition of COX-2 expression can potentially modify joint destruction in patients with arthritis.