The Effect of Endurance Training and Ozone Therapy on the Expression Levels of FLS and VEGF Genes in Knee Tissue of Rats with Osteoarthritis

Background & objectives: Osteoarthritis as a result of the destruction of articular cartilage, leads to joint pain and stiffness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of endurance and ozone therapy on the expression levels of FLS and VEGF genes in the knee tissue of rats with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Subjects were male Wistar rats that were randomly divided into 5 groups after two weeks of adaptation, including: control-healthy, control-patient, patient-ozone, patient-exercise and patient-sport. For adapting the rats to exercise and treadmill, walking program was performed before exercise program. The training program consisted of 30 minutes of running on a treadmill with no slope at a speed of 16 m/min for the first week and one m/min added weekly until it reached 22 m/min in the eighth week. Ozone was injected into the knee through the tibiofemoral articular line at a concentration of 20 μg/ml once a week for 3 weeks at 9 o'clock in the morning. Expression levels of FLS and VEGF genes were measured by Real Time PCR. One way ANOVA and Tukey's method were used to determine the difference between groups. Results: The results showed that the expression levels of FLS and VEGF genes were significantly increased in rats with osteoarthritis. It was also shown that physical training and ozone therapy led to a decrease in FLS and VEGF gene expression levels in osteoarthritic rats. VEGF and its receptors are expressed in OA cartilage and indicating the possibility that VEGF is involved in the elimination of OA articular cartilage by increasing MMP production. Conclusion: The results of this study are promising for the role of VEGF as a diagnostic marker. VEGF can participate in early OA changes and a treatment modality by modulating VEGF production, which can be considered in future.