OBJECTIVE: @entity130 increases @entity571 risk but its pathobiology in @entity571 is unclear. We hypothesized that older adult @entity3176 would exhibit knee osteoarthritic changes and the degenerative menisci from these animals would secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to the development of @entity571 . DESIGN: In a cross sectional analysis of healthy young adult (9-12 years) and old (19-26 years) adult female @entity3176 , knees were evaluated in  vivo with computed tomography (CT) imaging, and joint tissues were morphologically graded at necropsy. Meniscus explants were subsequently cultured to evaluate meniscal MMP and cytokine secretion. RESULTS: CT images revealed significant bony osteoarthritic changes in 80% of older monkeys which included @entity730 . Meniscus and cartilage degradation scores were greater in the older monkeys and were positively correlated (r  >  0.7). Menisci from older animals exhibiting osteoarthritic changes secreted significantly more MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-8 than healthy menisci from younger monkeys. Older menisci without significant osteoarthritic changes secreted more IL-7 than healthy young menisci while older osteoarthritic menisci secreted more IL-7 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor than healthy older menisci. CONCLUSIONS: Aged vervets develop naturally occurring knee @entity571 that includes involvement of the meniscus. Degenerative menisci secreted markedly increased amounts of matrix-degrading enzymes and inflammatory cytokines. These factors would be expected to act on the meniscus tissue and local joint tissues and may ultimately promote @entity571 development. These finding also suggest @entity3176 are a useful animal model for studying the progression of @entity571 .

Osteoarthritic changes in XXXX knees correlate with meniscus degradation and increased matrix metalloproteinase and cytokine secretion.

@entity3176 :: ('9534', 'Species') :: ['vervet monkeys'] @entity730 :: ('MESH:D002114', 'Disease') :: ['increases in osteophyte number and meniscal calcification'] @entity571 :: ('MESH:D010003', 'Disease') :: ['osteoarthritis'] @entity130 :: ('MESH:D014947', 'Disease') :: ['Meniscus injury']
@entity3176 :: (9534,Species) :: ['vervet monkey']
