Concentration of collagen, aggrecan and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in synovial fluid from equine middle carpal joints

Summary The aim of the present investigation was to study the metabolic activity of the third carpal bone and the release of COMP, aggrecan and collagen type II molecules in the synovial fluid as a result of injury. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), aggrecan and collagen type II or fragments of these molecules released to the synovial fluid and serum (COMP) were quantified in samples from 73 left equine middle carpal joints from 2 breeds with different activity profiles (52 Standardbred trotters [STB] and 21 Swedish Warmblood riding horses [SWH]) and different articular cartilage lesions. Synovial and serum samples were analysed using inhibition ELISA for COMP and aggrecan. An ELISA that combines features of both the competitive and capture ELISAs was used for collagen type II. COMP and aggrecan concentrations decreased in synovial fluid from the joints with moderate lesions of STB compared with the normal joints; COMP from 16.6 to 12.0 μg/ml and aggrecan from 93.0 to 68.1 μg/ml. In serum, COMP concentrations were also lowered in the STB with moderate lesions compared with the normal joints, while in the SWH, the COMP concentration in synovial fluids from joints with moderate lesions was somewhat increased at 19.6 μg/ml compared with the normal joints (17.6 μg/ml). The ratio between aggrecan/COMP in the synovial fluid from joints with moderate lesions was higher in the STB (6.2) than in the SWH (3.4). The level of collagen type II in synovial fluid was higher in the SWH (8.8 μg/ml) than the STB (1.6 μg/ml), but there was no correlation between joint damage and collagen concentrations in synovial fluids (10.0 and 1.8 μg/ml in joints with moderate lesions from SWH and STB, respectively). A marked difference in COMP synthesised upon metabolic labelling between the normal and osteoarthritic cartilage was seen and the synthesis of COMP in the articular cartilage of the third carpal bone with moderate articular lesions (from an STB) was lower than in the joint with mild lesions. This difference between breeds may reflect different load characters, in release of macromolecules in osteoarthritic and normal joints. This a novel finding that should be considered in studies of equine traumatic arthritis.