Fig. 6.

Supplemental intra-articular wild-type alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and its variants CYT-98 and CYT-108 reduce catabolism and enhance anabolic metabolism in the anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) rat osteoarthritis model. The levels of mRNA of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3(a), MMP-13(b), type X collagen(c), and Runx2(d) were expressed at a lower level in rats that were administered A2M and its variants as compared to the rats that underwent ACLT and PBS treatment. In contrast, the levels of mRNA for type II collagen (e) and aggrecan (f) followed an opposite pattern. Both of them were increased in rats that were administered A2M and its variants as compared to the rats that underwent ACLT and PBS treatment. Values are the mean ± SEM. ^#Compared with ACLT + PBS, P < 0.05 ; *compared with sham group, P < 0.05; &compared with ACLT + A2M, P < 0.05; ^€compared with ACLT + 98-2-L, P < 0.05; ^βcompared with ACLT + 98-2-H, P < 0.05; ^αcompared with ACLT + 108-2-L, P < 0.05