Study on the mechanism of bone protection of polysaccharide compound IMM-H021 for the treatment of osteoarthritis

Haijing Zhang, PhD and Lianqiu Wu, PhD, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease characterized with degenerative articular cartilage damage. The prevalence rate of OA among people over 65 is as high as 68%. Most of the available drugs for OA are symptomatic treatment, and more specific and effective drugs for OA are urgently needed. Current drugs at Phase III and NDA mainly target at COX-2 and there is lack of novel drugs that target at cartilage protection. The effects of polysaccharide compound IMM-H021on OA has been evaluated by seven animal models. The results of acute toxicity test and subacute toxicity test prove the safety of IMM-H021. Preliminary studies show that IMM-H021 can promote the repair of cartilage, but the mechanism of the cartilage protection is not clear. This project will focus on cartilage protective mechanism of IMM-H021 from cartilage, subchondral bone and synovium by using treadmill, immunohistochemistry, MRI, CT and RNAi. The results of this study will not only elucidate detailed mechanism for the clinical application of IMM-H021, but also provide new ideas and targets for the treatment of OA and other diseases with polysaccharide compounds.