Background: Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of arthritis. It is an important cause of pain and disability in elder adults. Trimetazidine and sitagliptin have anti-inflammatory effects.
Material and Methods: Fifty adult Wister male albino rats divided into 4 groups. Group Ι: Five rats received a single dose of 1ml 0.9% saline intra-articular. Group ΙΙ: Fifteen rats received a single dose of 1mg monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) diluted in 0.9% saline intra-articular and 1 ml of 1% gum acacia per gavage daily for 4 weeks. Group III: Fifteen rats received a single dose of 1mg MIA diluted in 0.9% saline intra-articular concomitant with oral administration of trimetazidine suspended in 1% gum acacia, in a dose of 10 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. Group IV: Fifteen rats received a single dose of 1mg MIA diluted in 0.9% saline intra-articular concomitant with oral administration of sitagliptin suspended in 1% gum acacia, in a dose of 10 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks.
Results: Intra-articular injection of MIA induced arthritis. Trimetazidine and sitagliptin insignificantly increased the circulating levels of serum inflammatory cytokines; COMP, IL-1 β, and TNF α. While the circulating levels of TGF-β1 in the arthritis group was significantly reduced compared to the control group. Concomitant administration of trimetazidine with MIA showed normal organized chondrocytes and normal bone trabeculae. Concomitant administration of sitagliptin showed improvement of histological features, normal organized chondrocytes, normal bone trabeculae and decreased resorption cavities. Histomorphometric evaluation of the percent area of the articular cartilage thickness revealed a significant decrease in arthritis group and a significant rise in both sitagliptin and trimetazidine groups.
Conclusion: Sitagliptin and trimetazidine may have protective effect against arthritis.