An Exploratory Clinical Study to Investigate Biomarkers of Senescence in Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Knee

This is an exploratory non-drug, interventional, hypothesis generating biomarker study. No Investigational Product will be administered in the study, however, there are study related procedures which are interventional such as arthroscopy, arthrocentesis and infusion of a gadolinium-containing contrast agent.

Consented patients who meet the selection criteria undergo MRI imaging with and without gadolinium contrast of both knees. Approximately seven days following the MRI imaging, patients undergo an arthrocentesis of both knees to obtain synovial fluid and then an arthroscopy of the target knee to obtain synovial and non-weight bearing cartilage tissues.

The patient will return to the clinic approximately seven days following the arthroscopy and arthrocentesis procedures for a routine safety follow-up.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients must be diagnosed as having primary (idiopathic) femoro-tibial osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee as defined by a modified version of the American College of Rheumatology Criteria (modified clinical and laboratory criteria) for at least 6 months.
• Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) score of grade 1 to 4 inclusive based on a standardized, semi-fixed, weight-bearing radiograph of the knee.
• Adults of age ≥ 35 years
• Body Mass Index less than or equal to an upper limit of 35 kg/m2
• Patients who are able to commit the time required to attend all study visits
• Normal clinical laboratory results with no clinically significant organ dysfunction which, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude patient from entering the study

Exclusion criteria

• Any condition, including laboratory findings and findings in the medical history or in the pre-study assessments, that, in the opinion of the Investigator constitutes a risk or contraindication for participation in the study or that could interfere with the study objectives, conduct or evaluation
• Prior open knee surgery to the target knee including but not limited to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair
• Patients who have had prior arthroscopy and intraarticular treatments for the management of osteoarthritis such as administration of hyaluronic acid or corticosteroids within the last 6 months
• Patients with traumatic knee injury who are scheduled for arthroscopic repair procedures to either target or non-target knee
• Patients who are deemed to be at risk of acute renal insufficiency of any severity due to hepato-renal syndrome or who are in the peri-operative liver transplant period.
• Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.
• Patients with renal dysfunction as defined by a Glomerular Filtration Rate <60 ml/min/1.73m2 by laboratory testing.
• Known allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to gadolinium-based contrast agents or patients who have other contraindications for MRI
• Patients requiring anticoagulation therapy other than low dose (81 mg or less) aspirin
• Treatment with an unapproved investigational therapeutic agent and/or experimental therapeutic procedure on the target knee within 24 weeks prior to screening
• Any active known or suspected systemic autoimmune disease Permitted on Study

• vitiligo
• residual hypothyroidism due to autoimmune condition only requiring hormone replacement
• psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment for 2 years
• conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger Excluded on Study
• documented history of inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)
• symptomatic autoimmune conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic progressive sclerosis [scleroderma])
• systemic lupus erythematosus
• autoimmune vasculitis (e.g. Wegener's Granulomatosis)
• patients with motor neuropathy considered of autoimmune origin (e.g. Guillain-Barré Syndrome)
• History of previous surgery (Total or Partial Knee Replacement) on the Target knee
• Lesions at the planned site of arthroscopy which would present a contraindication to the procedure such as open wounds or infection of the skin
• Any known active infection, including suspicion of intra-articular infection and/or infections that may compromise the immune system such as HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection
• History of sarcoma and/or history of other active malignancy within the last 5 years, except basal cell carcinoma, carcinoma in situ of the cervix and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
• Secondary osteoarthritis, including:

• Joint dysplasias
• Crystal-induced arthropathy (gout, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease)
• Aseptic osteonecrosis
• Acromegaly
• Paget's disease
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
• Gaucher's disease
• Stickler's syndrome
• Joint infection
• Hemophilia
• Hemochromatosis
• Neuropathic arthropathy of any cause
• Patients with risk factors for OA of the knee (e.g.: obesity, meniscectomy) are not considered as having secondary OA and can be included in this study
• Female patients who are pregnant. Female patients who are breast-feeding are eligible for enrollment providing the patient agrees not to breast-feed for 24 hours after receiving gadolinium for GE-MRI. Female patients of child-bearing potential must agree to utilize adequate contraceptive measures during the course of the study.
• Patients who do not have the legal capacity or medical competency to provide consent; consent via legally authorized representative is not accepted.