Effect of Hyaluronic Acid Injection and Aerobic Exercise on the Expression of β-catenin and GSK-3β Genes in Heart Tissue of Rats in the Experimental Model of Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is an advanced degenerative process that causes irreversible loss of articular cartilage and it is characterized by joint pain and its dysfunction. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of regular aerobic training and hyaluronic acid on cardiac tissue Wnt signaling pathway in experimental model of knee OA.

42 male rats were divided into 6 groups (7 in each group): 1) control, 2) patient, 3) salin, 4) HA,5) exercise and 6) exercise + HA. First, OA model was induced. Then, rats performed 5 days running on the treadmill for 5 weeks in the training group. Hyaluronic acid was injected intra-articularly. After 12 to 14 hours of fasting and 72 hours after the last training session, cardiac tissue sampling was performed for β-catenin and Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3β) analysis. Expression of theβ-catenin and GSK-3βgenes in cardiac tissue were analyzed by RT-PCR. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, if there was a significant difference, Tukey’s post hoc test was used (P <0.05).

Induction of OA in rats led to a significant increase in β-catenin gene as well as a significant decrease in cardiac tissue GSK3 gene compared to healthy control group. The results also showed that regular aerobic training, hyaluronic acid injection and a combination of both treatments resulted in a decrease in the β-catenin gene and an increase in the cardiac tissue GSK3 gene compared to in the OA group rats.
Discussion and

Regular aerobic training in combination with hyaluronic acid by reducing β-catenin expression and increasing cardiac tissue GSK-3β gene expression may exert its protective effect, which may be prevent heart disease in the experimental model of knee osteoarthritis.