Clinically relevant intra-articular corticosteroid doses impair equine osteoclast function in vitro.

All three common intra-articular corticosteroids impair equine osteoclast function, with MPA showing the strongest inhibitory effects.

This in vitro controlled laboratory study investigated the effects of three commonly used intra-articular corticosteroids (IACs)—triamcinolone acetonide (TCA), methylprednisolone acetate (MPA), and betamethasone combination (BM)—on equine osteoclast function at clinically relevant concentrations. Osteoclasts were differentiated from bone marrow aspirates of three donor mares and cultured either alone or on equine bone slices before corticosteroid treatment. Key outcome measures included osteoclast numbers, bone resorption area, and biomarkers TRACP-5b and CTX-I assessed via ELISA. All three corticosteroids significantly reduced mature osteoclast numbers compared to controls, with MPA producing a greater reduction than TCA. In osteoclast-bone cultures, MPA significantly decreased CTX-I (a bone resorption marker) compared to all other groups, while TCA reduced TRACP-5b compared to controls. Despite these biomarker changes, no statistically significant differences in measurable bone resorption area were detected. The findings demonstrate that clinically relevant IAC doses impair equine osteoclast activity in vitro, with MPA showing the most pronounced inhibitory effects. These results suggest that IACs may interfere with subchondral bone remodeling and repair processes, which has important implications for joint health in horses. Clinicians should consider the potential downstream effects on osteoclast-mediated bone homeostasis when selecting IAC agents and determining treatment frequency in equine joint management.

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