Synovial fluid mitochondrial DNA concentration reflects the degree of cartilage damage after naturally occurring articular injury

Seewald LA, Sabino IG, Montney KL, Delco ML · Osteoarthritis and Cartilage

The only published in-vivo joint delivery of SS-31: intra-articular injection after impact reduced synovial-fluid mitochondrial-DNA release versus untreated joints at days 14 and 28 and reduced cell death at all time points; in naturally injured joints, synovial mtDNA correlated strongly (r = 0.80) with the degree of cartilage damage.

Population

12 adult horses with arthroscopically created talar cartilage impact injuries, plus explant, culture, and naturally occurring injury cohorts

Intervention

Intra-articular SS-31 (elamipretide, 1 µM) injected into both joints 1 hour after injury, surgeon blinded

Comparator

Intra-articular saline

Limitations

Six horses per arm (one treated horse excluded); biomarker and cell-death endpoints, not cartilage structure, function, or OA development; no long-term follow-up.