Gene transfer with HSP 70 in rat chondrocytes confers cytoprotection in vitro and during experimental osteoarthritis

Grossin L, Cournil-Henrionnet C, Pinzano A, et al. · The FASEB Journal

Preventive HSP70 overexpression made chondrocytes more resistant to cell death and decreased the histological and biochemical severity of induced osteoarthritis lesions in vivo.

Population

Rat patellar cartilage, mono-iodoacetate experimental osteoarthritis

Intervention

HSP70 plasmid delivered to patellar chondrocytes by electroporation before OA induction

Limitations

Gene transfer, not heat: the HSP70 came from a plasmid. No animal study has tested whether whole-body passive heating reproduces this protection.