Cartilage Adaptation and Response to Interleukins and Exercise

The Effect of Exercise on the Collagen Synthesis and Cytokine Response in Human Cartilage Tissue With Osteoarthritis

This study will examine the effect of exercise on the turnover of collagen in articular cartilage and the content of cytokines in the synovial fluid from human adults with osteoarthritis.

By using stabile isotope labelling, this study will track the formation and destination of newly formed cartilage collagen in adult humans scheduled for knee replacement surgery due to osteoarthritis. The collagen formation as well as the effect on the cytokine content of the synovial fluid will be examined both at rest and in response to 4 weeks of exercise/training. Overall the project aims to improve the basic understanding of cartilage development and function in relation to osteoarthritis prevention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primary osteoarthritis of the knee scheduled for knee replacement surgery
• Must be able to perform physical exercise
• Age 40-90 years old
• BMI 18.5-40 kg/m^2
• None smoker for the last 6 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• Regular intake of:
• non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
• corticoid-steroids
• disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD)
• cytostatic incl. chemotherapy
• immune suppressive medicine
• Inflammatory diseases or cancer
• Recent trauma to the knee (< 3 months)
• Previous knee surgery
• Regular strenuous exercise ( > 1 pr. month)
• Previous exposure to tracers (e.g. from another study)