Extracellular matrix protection factor 1 (ECPF-1): A novel osteoarthritis therapeutic demonstrates chondroprotective properties in a rat model of osteoarthritis; a quantitative micro computed tomography study of the tibia and femur

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent joint diseases, affecting millions of people and yet there is currently no cure. Finding a therapeutic that can cure OA would be beneficial for millions of people and those prone to a future degenerative disease.

Objective: Current therapeutics for OA are focused on relieving symptoms for late stages of the disease. Extracellular Matrix Protection Factor-1 (ECPF-1), is a novel, highly specific Matrix metalloprotease-13 (MMP-13) inhibitor that blocks extracellular matrix degradation.

Methods: A chemically-induced rat model of knee OA was used to study the effects of ECPF-1 in early stage OA progression. Micro computed tomography (µCT) images of the rat knee joints were quantified by measuring bone volume, spacing and total joint volume and trabecular spacing, thickness and number.

Results: Data collected focuses on the treatment effects of ECPF-1 in the acute stage of OA after a loading phase (4 weekly injections of ECPF-1) and an 8-week protection-extension phase. For the femur, all ECPF-1 treated µCT measurements trended toward the values in the normal age-matched rat at both 4 and 8 weeks. For the tibia, all ECPF-1 treated µCT measurements trended toward the values in the normal age-matched rat at 8 weeks. The trabecular number values in both the femur and the tibia were most prominent in the 8-week samples of animals treated with ECPF-1 and exhibited the most progress toward normal, age-matched rat readings.

Conclusions: This model showed that using an MMP inhibitor such as ECPF-1 could help in treating acute, post-traumatic OA. This is a potential new treatment for OA that indicates the ability to slow the disease progression.