| OBJECTIVE To examine the expression of Interleukin 1β(IL-1β) and osteopontin (OPN)in osteoarthritis(OA) articular cartilage and to explore the possible relationship between IL-1β, OPN and the pathogenesis,progression and treatment of OA. METHODS 46 osteoarthritic cartilage samples were obtained from 26 patients with primary OA undergoing total knee replacement.Clinical data were carefully reviewed to exclude any forms of secondary OA and inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.10 normal cartilage samples were collected from 6 amputation patients with accidental injury.Cartilage changes were classified histomorphologically,using the grading system of Mankin.All the samples were divided into four groups of normal(grade 1),minor(grade 2),moderate(grade 3) and severe(grade 4). The expression of IL-1βand OPN were examined by the immunohistochemistry(EliVisionTM plus), Semiquantitative analysis is undertaken by the SamplePCI image analysis system.The result were analysed by SPSS12.0.RESULTS(1) HE stains:The chondrocytes in normal group were regular,well layer and less vacuolar cells.The OA chondrocytes were irregular,sparse and the vacuolar cells and clustered cells could be seen.(2) Immunohistochemistry:Little immunostaining of OPN and IL-1βwas observed in normal cartilage,while their expressions increased in degenerated cartilage.The absorbance amounts of IL-1βexpression were respectively 0.1645±0.0117(grade 1),0.1827±0.0114(grade 2),0.2767±0.0274(grade 3),0.2358±0.0219(grade 4),The absorbance amounts of OPN expression were 0.1605±0.0117(grade 1),0.1824±0.0094(grade 2),0.2731±0.0152(grade 3),0.2194±0.0201(grade 4).The mutual comparisons of all these groups have statistical significance.(P<0.05).The expression of IL-1βhas positive correlation with OPN(r=0.910,P<0.01).OPN and IL-1βhave positive correlation with the grade of pathological changes of articular cartilage(r=0.929,0.898,P<0.01).CONCLUSIONS IL-1βand OPN were siginificantly higher in osteoarthritic cartilage than in control.The two factors were associated with the pathogenesis and progression of OA.Both of them can be targeted by therapeutic agents. |