Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease, characterized by progressive loss of cartilage, local inflammation, and changes in subchondral bone. Despite extensive research, current therapeutic approaches remain largely symptomatic, and there is a lack of reliable methods to monitor disease progression or treatment efficacy in vivo. Chondroprotective (ChP) agents are widely used in clinical practice to support cartilage structure and reduce inflammation, yet their actual therapeutic potential and the feasibility of non-invasive monitoring remain insufficiently explored. The proposed project aims to comprehensively evaluate the impact of ChP therapy on inflammatory activity and cartilage microstructure in patients with advanced knee OA undergoing total joint replacement. Twenty patients will be enrolled and divided into two groups – those receiving ChP therapy for at least six months prior to surgery and untreated controls. Synovial fluid, synovial membrane, and cartilage samples will be collected and analyzed for pro-inflammatory and matrix-degrading markers at the protein and gene expression levels (e.g., ILs, TNF-α, MMPs, TIMPs, aggrecan, collagen II, CTX-II). In parallel, advanced MRI techniques, including T2 mapping, diffusion imaging, and relaxometry, will be used to characterize cartilage composition and microstructure on nano- and micro-levels. Integration of molecular, biochemical, and imaging data will enable a comprehensive assessment of the relationship between inflammation and structural changes in cartilage, and it will help to validate MRI as a non-invasive tool for monitoring therapeutic outcomes. This multidisciplinary approach will provide novel insights into the biological and structural effects of ChP agents in osteoarthritic cartilage, paving the way toward a more personalized and evidence-based management of OA.

Sustainable Development Goals

Masaryk University is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the conditions and quality of life on our planet by 2030.