Anti-degradation effectiveness of collagen matrix with secretome administration in animal osteoarthritis model using MMP-13 and RUNX2

Osteoarthritis (OA), a global disease affecting 250 million people, requires a new treatment with regenerative properties. Current treatments such as NSAIDs and corticosteroids do not prevent progression. The recent study showed that secretome has therapeutic potential for OA due to its immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. This study aims to evaluate the anti-degradation effect of the collagen matrix with secretome injection based on MMP-13 and RUNX2 expressions in experimental animals. An in vivo animal study using twenty Wistar rats with osteoarthritic conditions was done by injecting the type VII collagenase (Sigma-Aldrich®). The subjects were divided into two groups, the treatment group injected intraarticularly with secretome and the control group with placebo. Termination was conducted on day 21. Histological evaluation procedure were using MMP-13 and RUNX2 antibodies, followed by statistical analysis. The results were obtained by two blinded observers showed thickening of the synovial membrane, and erosion of the cartilage into the matrix area of the control group with the MMP-13 expression in the treatment group is decreased compared to the control group. Meanwhile, the RUNX2 expression is increased in the treatment group compared to the control group. The Shapiro-Wilk test was performed and continued with independent T-Test for MMP-13 and Wilcoxon test for the RUNX2. The p-values were 0.019 and 0.035 for the MMP-13 and RUNX2, respectively. Secretome has a significant anti-degradation role in OA conditions that showed with decreased MMP-13 and increased RUNX2 expression in Wistar rat's OA model.