Effect of exercise, ozone and mesenchymal stem cells therapies on the expression of IL-۱۰ and TNF-α in the cartilage tissue of rats with knee osteoarthritis

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common type of articular disorder worldwide. Interleukin ۱۰ (IL-۱۰) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are considered as an essential regulator contributing to inflammation and knee OA pathogenesis. In this study, the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), ozone (O۳) and exercise training were considered on IL-۱۰ and TNF-α expression in rats with knee OA.Methods: In this experimental study, knee OA was induced by surgical method in rats. OA rats were randomly divided into the patient, MSCs, ozone, and exercise groups. Rats in the MSCs group received an intra articular injection of ۱×۱۰۶ cells/kg. Rats in the ozone group received O۳ at the concentration of ۲۰μg/ml, once weekly for ۳ weeks. Rats in the exercise group were trained on rodent treadmill for three times per week. ۴۸ hours after the programs, cartilage tissues were isolated and expression of IL-۱۰ and TNF-α was considered using Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR).Results: Ozone therapy significantly increased the expression of IL-۱۰ compared to the patient (۳.۱۲ fold; P=۰.۰۳۱), MSCs (۲.۷۸ fold; P=۰.۰۴۲) and exercise (۴.۶۴ fold; P=۰.۰۳۴) groups. The patient group had significantly higher expression of TNF-α compared to the control (۳۲.۲۷ fold; P<۰.۰۰۱), MSCs (۱.۵۸ fold; P=۰.۰۰۱) and ozone (۳.۰۲ fold; P<۰.۰۰۱) groups. MSCs and ozone therapies significantly decreased TNF-α expression compared to the patients (P=۰.۰۰۱ and P<۰.۰۰۱, respectively) and exercise (P=۰.۰۴۲ and P<۰.۰۰۱, respectively) groups; however, ozone therapy was significantly more effective than MSC therapy (P=۰.۰۰۷).Conclusion: Ozone therapy was significantly more effective than exercise and MSC therapy to improve knee OA in rats.