Gait mechanics and resting serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) concentrations were measured for two groups of asymptomatic subjects recruited for a previous study: Pre-Osteoarthritis (OA) subjects had MRI evidence of partial- or full-thickness knee cartilage loss in at least one compartment (n = 52 (30 female), 1.7 ± 0.1 m, 85.3 ± 18.9 kg, 44 ± 11 years); Control subjects had no MRI features of cartilage loss, osteophytes, bone marrow lesions, nor meniscal pathology in either knee (n = 26 (13 female), 1.7 ± 0.1 m, 74.6 ± 14.9 kg, 34 ± 10 years).
WJHL could significantly improve clinical arthritic conditions; inhibit bone erosion and osteophyte formation in joints; decrease expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17); reduce protein expression levels of JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, p-STAT3 and gene expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, IL-17A, RORγt mRNA; elevate osteoprotegerin and Foxp3 mRNA levels and lower Th17 cell proportions in splenocytes.