Association between ADIPOQ gene variants and knee osteoarthritis in a Chinese population

Whole-transcriptome sequencing and ceRNA interaction network of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis to explore the potential biological functions of noncoding RNA (ncRNAs) in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Methods: Whole transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) profiles between the TMJOA and normal groups. The functions and pathways of the DEGs were analyzed using Metascape, and a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed using Cytoscape software. Results: A total of 137 DEmRNAs, 65 DEmiRNAs, 132 DElncRNAs, and 29 DEcircRNAs were identified between the TMJOA and normal groups. Functional annotation of the DEmRNAs revealed that immune response and apoptosis are closely related to TMJOA and also suggested key signaling pathways related to TMJOA, including chronic depression and PPAR signaling pathways. We identified vital mRNAs, including Klrk1, Adipoq, Cryab, and Hspa1b. Notably, Adipoq expression in cartilage was significantly upregulated in TMJOA compared with normal groups (10-fold, p < 0.001). According to the functional analysis of DEmRNAs regulated by the ceRNA network, we found that ncRNAs are involved in the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis. In addition, significantly DEncRNAs (lncRNA-COX7A1, lncRNA-CHTOP, lncRNA-UFM1, ciRNA166 and circRNA1531) were verified, and among these, circRNA1531 (14.5-fold, p < 0.001) and lncRNA-CHTOP (14.8-fold, p < 0.001) were the most significantly downregulated ncRNAs. Conclusion: This study showed the potential of lncRNAs, circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs may as clinical biomarkers and provides transcriptomic insights into their functional roles in TMJOA. This study identified the transcriptomic signatures of mRNAs associated with immunity and apoptosis and the signatures of ncRNAs associated with autophagy and apoptosis and provides insight into ncRNAs in TMJOA.

Associations between adipokines gene polymorphisms and knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis

Background

Adipokines gene polymorphisms are speculated to be associated with the risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA), but evidence remains conflicting. This study therefore aimed to examine whether associations exist between adipokines gene polymorphisms and knee OA by considering the evidence collected from eligible studies through a meta-analysis.

Methods

A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang up to March 31, 2020. Meta-analysis was carried out by focusing on the associations between adipokines gene polymorphisms and knee OA with the allele model, dominant model, and recessive model.

Results

The present meta-analysis included 5 eligible studies for ADIPOQ rs1501299 with 1,021 cases and 1,097 controls, 3 eligible studies for ADIPOQ rs2241766 with 549 cases and 544 controls, 3 eligible studies for LEPR rs1137101 with 808 cases and 856 controls, 2 eligible studies for VISFATIN rs4730153 with 339 cases and 680 controls and 2 eligible studies for VISFATIN rs16872158 with 339 cases and 680 controls. Significant association was observed between LEPR rs1137101 and knee OA in the overall population (recessive: OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.21–0.79). Limited data revealed that associations may exist between ADIPOQ rs2241766 and knee OA in Asians (dominant: OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.03–1.78), between VISFATIN rs4730153 and knee OA in Asians (allele: OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.41–0.83; dominant: OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.39–0.83), and between VISFATIN rs16872158 and knee OA in Asians (allele: OR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.26–2.68; dominant: OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.31–2.89).

Conclusions

Adipokines gene polymorphisms may be associated with knee OA. The association was observed in LEPR rs1137101 in the present study. In addition, limited data revealed that associations may also exist in ADIPOQ rs2241766, VISFATIN rs4730153 and VISFATIN rs16872158.

Prospero registration

CRD42020187664.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-022-05111-4.

Recent Advances in Pharmacological Intervention of Osteoarthritis: A Biological Aspect

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease in the musculoskeletal system with a relatively high incidence and disability rate in the elderly. It is characterized by the degradation of articular cartilage, inflammation of the synovial membrane, and abnormal structure in the periarticular and subchondral bones. Although progress has been made in uncovering the molecular mechanism, the etiology of OA is still complicated and unclear. Nevertheless, there is no treatment method that can effectively prevent or reverse the deterioration of cartilage and bone structure. In recent years, in the field of pharmacology, research focus has shifted to disease prevention and early treatment rather than disease modification in OA. Biologic agents become more and more attractive as their direct or indirect intervention effects on the initiation or development of OA. In this review, we will discuss a wide spectrum of biologic agents ranging from DNA, noncoding RNA, exosome, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), to protein. We searched for key words such as OA, DNA, gene, RNA, exosome, PRP, protein, and so on. From the pharmacological aspect, stem cell therapy is a very special technique, which is not included in this review. The literatures ranging from January 2016 to August 2021 were included and summarized. In this review, we aim to help readers have a complete and precise understanding of the current pharmacological research progress in the intervention of OA from the biological aspect and provide an indication for the future translational studies.

Val109Asp Polymorphism of the Omentin-1 Gene and Incidence of Knee Osteoarthritis in a Chinese Han Population: A Correlation Analysis

Objective

To investigate the correlation of the Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene with the risk and severity of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in a Chinese Han population.

Methods

This study enrolled 383 patients with primary KOA and 460 healthy controls. The genotypes were determined by the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism. To explore the interaction between omentin-1 gene polymorphism and obesity and age, the body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² and the age of 55 years old were preset as the cut-off value of stratified analysis. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of omentin-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 in peripheral blood and synovial fluid and the contents of IL-1β, IL-6, metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and collagen (COL)-II in the supernatant of knee joint cartilage tissue.

Results

The Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene showed no obvious correlation with KOA. Compared with Asp/Asp genotype carriers with BMI <25 kg/m² and age <55 years old, Val109 allele carriers with BMI≥25 kg/m² and age ≥55 years old had obviously increased risk of KOA (adjusted OR = 1.416, p = 0.042; adjusted OR = 1.735, p = 0.038, respectively). In the KOA group, only the omentin-1 levels were significantly lower in the plasma and synovial fluid of Ala/Ala genotype carriers than in those of Asp/Asp genotype carriers. Meanwhile, the proportion of patients with moderate–severe K-L Classification, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 in synovial fluid and the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-13 in cartilage tissue significantly increased (p < 0.05). By contrast, the expression level of COL-II in cartilage tissue significantly decreased (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene may not be the primary pathogenic factor of KOA in Chinese. The Val/Val genotype can be regarded as a potential biomarker for the risk of KOA progression.

Identification of differential key biomarkers in the synovial tissue between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis using bioinformatics analysis

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are two common joint diseases with similar clinical manifestations. Our study aimed to identify differential gene biomarkers in the synovial tissue between RA and OA using bioinformatics analysis and validation.

METHOD

GSE36700, GSE1919, GSE12021, GSE55235, GSE55584, and GSE55457 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. A total of 57 RA samples and 46 OA samples were included. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. The Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were also performed. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs and the hub genes were constructed and visualized via Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins, Cytoscape, and R. Selected hub genes were validated via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

A total of 41 DEGs were identified. GO functional enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were enriched in immune response, signal transduction, regulation of immune response for biological process, in plasma membrane and extracellular region for cell component, and antigen binding and serine-type endopeptidase activity for molecular function. KEGG pathway analysis showed that DEGs were enriched in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and chemokine signaling pathway. PPI network analysis established 70 nodes and 120 edges and 15 hub genes were identified. The expression of CXCL13, CXCL10, and ADIPOQ was statistically different between RA and OA synovial tissue.

CONCLUSION

Differential expression of CXCL13, CXCL10, and ADIPOQ between RA and OA synovial tissue may provide new insights for understanding the RA development and difference between RA and OA. Key Points • Bioinformatics analysis was used to identify the differentially expressed genes in the synovial tissue between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. • CXCL13, CXCL10, and ADIPOQ might provide new insight for understanding the differences between RA and OA.

Deer antler extract potentially facilitates xiphoid cartilage growth and regeneration and prevents inflammatory susceptibility by regulating multiple functional genes

BACKGROUND

Deer antler is a zoological exception due to its fantastic characteristics, including amazing growth rate and repeatable regeneration. Deer antler has been used as a key ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine relating to kidney and bone health for centuries. The aim of this study was to dissect the molecular regulation of deer antler extract (DAE) on xiphoid cartilage (XC).

METHODS

The DAE used in this experiment was same as the one that was prepared as previously described. The specific pathogen-free (SPF) grade Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into blank group (n =10) and DAE group (n =10) after 1-week adaptive feeding. The DAE used in this experiment was same as the one that was prepared as previously described. The rats in DAE group were fed with DAE for 3 weeks at a dose of 0.2 g/kg per day according to the body surface area normalization method, and the rats in blank group were fed with drinking water. Total RNA was extracted from XC located in the most distal edge of the sternum. Illumina RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in combination with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validation assay was carried out to dissect the molecular regulation of DAE on XC.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that DAE significantly increased the expression levels of DEGs involved in cartilage growth and regeneration, but decreased the expression levels of DEGs involved in inflammation, and mildly increased the expression levels of DEGs involved in chondrogenesis and chondrocyte proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that DAE might serve as a complementary therapeutic regent for cartilage growth and regeneration to treat cartilage degenerative disease, such as osteoarthritis.

Role of adipose tissues in osteoarthritis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Epidemiologic studies reveal that the link between obesity and osteoarthritis cannot be uniquely explained by overweight-associated mechanical overload. For this reason, much attention focuses on the endocrine activity of adipose tissues. In addition to the systemic role of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues, many arguments highlight the involvement of local adipose tissues in osteoarthritis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Alteration in MRI signal intensity of the infrapatellar fat pad may predict both accelerated knee osteoarthritis and joint replacement. In this context, recent studies show that mesenchymal stromal cells could play a pivotal role in the pathological remodelling of intra-articular adipose tissues (IAATs) in osteoarthritis. In parallel, recent findings underline bone marrow adipose tissue as a major player in the control of the bone microenvironment, suggesting its possible role in osteoarthritis.

SUMMARY

The recent description of adipose tissues of various phenotypes within an osteoarthritic joint allows us to evoke their direct involvement in the initiation and progression of the osteoarthritic process. We can expect in the near future the discovery of novel molecules targeting these tissues.