Cartilage-Sparing Properties of Equine Omega Complete in an Organ Culture Model of Cartilage Inflammation

The purpose of this study was to determine anti-inflammatory and/or chondroprotective effects of Equine Omega Complete (EOC) on cartilage explants stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Explants were aseptically prepared from the intercarpal joints of 17 market-weight pigs and placed in culture at 37 degrees C for a total of 120 hours. For the final 96 hours, explants were conditioned with a simulated digestion extract of EOC (0, 36 or 180 mu L/mL), and for the final 48 hours explants were stimulated with LPS (0 or 15 mu g/mL). Media was removed and replaced every 24 hours. Samples from the final 48 hours were analyzed for biomarkers of cartilage inflammation (prostaglandin E 2 [PGE2] and nitric oxide [NO]) and cartilage structure (glycosaminoglycan [GAG]). At the end of the culture period cartilage explants were stained for an estimate of cell viability. Stimulation of unconditioned explants with LPS significantly in-creased media concentrations of PGE2, GAG and NO compared with that from unstimulated explants. LPS stimulation did not significantly affect cell viability. Both concentrations of EOC prevented significant LPS-stimulated cartilage release of GAG without impairing chondrocyte viability. No other effects of treatment were observed. These data provide evidence for a non-cytotoxic, chondroprotective effect of EOC in car-tilage. This in vitro experiment supports the use of EOC in protecting against the detrimental effects of inflammation on cartilage structure.(c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.