University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna The effect of cyclic fluid perfusion on the proinflammatory tissue environment in osteoarthritis using equine joint-on-a-chip models Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder characterized by cartilage degradation, chronic inflammation, and progressive joint dysfunction. Despite rising incidences driven by ageing and increasing obesity, potent treatments remain elusive, exacerbating the socioeconomic burden. OA pathogenesis involves an imbalance in extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover, mediated by inflammatory cytokines and matrix-degrading enzymes, leading to oxidative stress, chondrocyte apoptosis, and ECM degradation. Additionally, synovial inflammation (synovitis) plays a critical role in disease progression through molecular crosstalk with cartilage and other joint tissues. Existing in vitro and in vivo OA models face significant limitations in replicating human pathophysiology, particularly the complex interplay between joint tissues. Equine models, due to their anatomical and cellular similarities to humans, offer translational relevance but remain underutilized. This study aims to develop an advanced 3D coculture system using equine chondrocytes and synoviocytes to simulate tissue-level interactions and fluid mechanical forces involved in OA. By incorporating inflammatory stimuli and gravity-driven cyclic fluid actuation, this model enables the study of OA-related molecular interactions in both healthy and diseased conditions under dynamic fluid conditions. Findings from this research provide important insights into pathological tissue crosstalk. In turn, this can help to better understand underlying inflammatory pathways and the potential contribution of fluid flow as an influential factor on the tissue microenvironment. en TEXT journal article Wissenschaftlicher Artikel Articolo di rivista Text Wissenschaftlicher Artikel Text journal article Testo Articolo di rivista Animals Horses Osteoarthritis Pathology Osteoarthritis Metabolism Chondrocytes Pathology Chondrocytes Cytology Chondrocytes Metabolism Lab-On-A-Chip Devices Inflammation Pathology Synoviocytes Pathology Synoviocytes Cytology Synoviocytes Metabolism Coculture Techniques Perfusion Joints Pathology Cells, Cultured 2025 2025 Johannes Heidenberger Eva I. Reihs Jonathan Strauss Martin Frauenlob Sinan Gültekin Iris Gerner Stefan Tögel Peter Ertl Reinhard Windhager Florien Jenner Mario Rothbauer Royal Society of Chemistry