Numerous studies identified a role for the sensory neuropeptides substance P (SP) and alpha calcitonin gene-related peptide (αCGRP) in osteoarthritis (OA) pain behavior. Surprisingly, little attention has been paid on how their trophic effects on cartilage and bone cells might affect structural changes of bone and cartilage in OA pathology. Here, we sought to elucidate sensory neuropeptides influence on structural alterations of bone and cartilage during murine OA pathophysiology. OA was induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) in the right knee joint of 12 weeks old male C57Bl/6J wildtype (WT) mice and mice either deficient for SP (tachykinin 1 (Tac1)−/−) or αCGRP. By OARSI histopathological grading we observed significant cartilage matrix degradation after DMM surgery in αCGRP-deficient mice after 4 weeks whereas Tac1−/− scores were not different to sham mice before 12 weeks after surgery. Indentation-type atomic force microscopy (IT-AFM) identified a strong superficial zone (SZ) cartilage phenotype in Tac1−/− Sham mice. Opposed to WT and αCGRP−/− mice, SZ cartilage of Tac1−/− mice softened 2 weeks after OA induction. In Tac1−/− DMM mice, bone volume to total volume ratio (BV/TV) increased significantly compared to the Tac1−/− Sham group, 2 weeks after surgery. WT mice had reduced BV/TV compared to αCGRP−/− and Tac1−/− mice after 12 weeks. Increased calcified cartilage thickness and medial condyle diameter were detected in the medial tibia of all groups 8 weeks after OA induction by nanoCT analysis. Meniscal ossification occurred in all OA groups, but was significantly stronger in the absence of neuropeptides. Increased serum concentration of the respective non-deleted neuropeptide was observed in both neuropeptide-deficient mice strains.

Both neuropeptides protect from age-related bone structural changes under physiological conditions and SP additionally demonstrates an anabolic effect on bone structure preservation in a pathophysiological situation. Both neuropeptide deficient mice display an intrinsic structural cartilage matrix phenotype that might alter progression of cartilage degeneration in OA.