Targeted designed variants of alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) attenuate cartilage degeneration in a rat model of osteoarthritis induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection.
Thus, we conclude that co-expression of the α2M and Sox9 genes, combined with chitosan‑mediated gene delivery, will offer potential as a novel means by which to treat OA via intra-articular injection.
Testing a subset of these plasma proteins in macrophage stimulation assays, we found that Gc-globulin, α1-microglobulin, and α2-macroglobulin can signal via TLR4 to induce macrophage production of inflammatory cytokines implicated in OA.