Interleukin-6 and high mobility group box protein-1 in synovial membranes and osteochondral fragments in equine osteoarthritis

Cytokine production in synovial membranes (SM) and osteochondral fragments (OCF) may influence the development of equine osteoarthritis (OA). In this study, the presence of interleukin (IL)-6 and cytoplasmic and extracellular high mobility group box protein (HMGB)-1 in SM and osteochondral tissue from healthy and diseased equine joints was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, microscopic synovitis was graded. IL-6 was commonly found in SM cells and in chondrocytes in uncalcified cartilage of OCF, whereas little staining was detected in healthy cartilage. Cytoplasmic and/or extracellular HMGB-1 was widespread only in SM from diseased joints, and also detected in OCF in areas of cartilage damage, fibrous repair tissue, and tidemark reduplication. Joints with OCF and cartilage lesions (without OCF) showed significantly higher median synovitis scores than healthy joints (p = 0.013 and p = 0.042, respectively). The study identifies OCF as a source of inflammatory mediators in equine OA, as shown by the presence of IL-6 and extracellular HMGB-1 in the fragment. Based upon HMGB-1 release in SM and OCF, further studies to investigate possible involvement of HMGB-1 in the pathogenesis of OA are warranted.