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Poulsen RC, Jain L, Dalbeth N. Re-thinking osteoarthritis pathogenesis: what can we learn (and what do we need to unlearn) from mouse models about the mechanisms involved in disease development. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:59. [PMID: 37046337 PMCID: PMC10100340 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03042-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Efforts to develop effective disease-modifying drugs to treat osteoarthritis have so far proved unsuccessful with a number of promising drug candidates from pre-clinical studies failing to show efficacy in clinical trials. It is therefore timely to re-evaluate our current understanding of osteoarthritis pathogenesis and the similarities and differences in disease development between commonly used pre-clinical mouse models and human patients. There is substantial heterogeneity between patients presenting with osteoarthritis and mounting evidence that the pathways involved in osteoarthritis (e.g. Wnt signalling) differ between patient sub-groups. There is also emerging evidence that the pathways involved in osteoarthritis differ between the STR/ort mouse model (the most extensively studied mouse model of spontaneously occurring osteoarthritis) and injury-induced osteoarthritis mouse models. For instance, while canonical Wnt signalling is upregulated in the synovium and cartilage at an early stage of disease in injury-induced osteoarthritis mouse models, this does not appear to be the case in the STR/ort mouse. Such findings may prove insightful for understanding the heterogeneity in mechanisms involved in osteoarthritis pathogenesis in human disease. However, it is important to recognise that there are differences between mice and humans in osteoarthritis pathogenesis. A much more extensive array of pathological changes are evident in osteoarthritic joints in individual mice with osteoarthritis compared to individual patients. There are also specified differences in the pathways involved in disease development. For instance, although increased TGF-β signalling is implicated in osteoarthritis development in both mouse models of osteoarthritis and human disease, in mice, this is mainly mediated through TGF-β3 whereas in humans, it is through TGF-β1. Studies in other tissues have shown TGF-β1 is more potent than TGF-β3 in inducing the switch to SMAD1/5 signalling that occurs in osteoarthritic cartilage and that TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 have opposing effects on fibrosis. It is therefore possible that the relative contribution of TGF-β signalling to joint pathology in osteoarthritis differs between murine models and humans. Understanding the similarities and differences in osteoarthritis pathogenesis between mouse models and humans is critical for understanding the translational potential of findings from pre-clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raewyn C Poulsen
- Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand.
| | - Lekha Jain
- Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Grafton, Auckland, 1023, New Zealand
| | - Nicola Dalbeth
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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3
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Rauner M, Foessl I, Formosa MM, Kague E, Prijatelj V, Lopez NA, Banerjee B, Bergen D, Busse B, Calado Â, Douni E, Gabet Y, Giralt NG, Grinberg D, Lovsin NM, Solan XN, Ostanek B, Pavlos NJ, Rivadeneira F, Soldatovic I, van de Peppel J, van der Eerden B, van Hul W, Balcells S, Marc J, Reppe S, Søe K, Karasik D. Perspective of the GEMSTONE Consortium on Current and Future Approaches to Functional Validation for Skeletal Genetic Disease Using Cellular, Molecular and Animal-Modeling Techniques. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:731217. [PMID: 34938269 PMCID: PMC8686830 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.731217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of large human datasets for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the advancement of sequencing technologies have boosted the identification of genetic variants in complex and rare diseases in the skeletal field. Yet, interpreting results from human association studies remains a challenge. To bridge the gap between genetic association and causality, a systematic functional investigation is necessary. Multiple unknowns exist for putative causal genes, including cellular localization of the molecular function. Intermediate traits ("endophenotypes"), e.g. molecular quantitative trait loci (molQTLs), are needed to identify mechanisms of underlying associations. Furthermore, index variants often reside in non-coding regions of the genome, therefore challenging for interpretation. Knowledge of non-coding variance (e.g. ncRNAs), repetitive sequences, and regulatory interactions between enhancers and their target genes is central for understanding causal genes in skeletal conditions. Animal models with deep skeletal phenotyping and cell culture models have already facilitated fine mapping of some association signals, elucidated gene mechanisms, and revealed disease-relevant biology. However, to accelerate research towards bridging the current gap between association and causality in skeletal diseases, alternative in vivo platforms need to be used and developed in parallel with the current -omics and traditional in vivo resources. Therefore, we argue that as a field we need to establish resource-sharing standards to collectively address complex research questions. These standards will promote data integration from various -omics technologies and functional dissection of human complex traits. In this mission statement, we review the current available resources and as a group propose a consensus to facilitate resource sharing using existing and future resources. Such coordination efforts will maximize the acquisition of knowledge from different approaches and thus reduce redundancy and duplication of resources. These measures will help to understand the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and other skeletal diseases towards defining new and more efficient therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Rauner
- Department of Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ines Foessl
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Endocrine Lab Platform, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Melissa M. Formosa
- Department of Applied Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Erika Kague
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Vid Prijatelj
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- The Generation R Study, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nerea Alonso Lopez
- Rheumatology and Bone Disease Unit, CGEM, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Bodhisattwa Banerjee
- Musculoskeletal Genetics Laboratory, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Dylan Bergen
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Björn Busse
- Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ângelo Calado
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eleni Douni
- Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Institute for Bioinnovation, B.S.R.C. “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
| | - Yankel Gabet
- Department of Anatomy & Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Natalia García Giralt
- Musculoskeletal Research Group, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Grinberg
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, CIBERER, IBUB, IRSJD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nika M. Lovsin
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Xavier Nogues Solan
- Musculoskeletal Research Group, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Ostanek
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nathan J. Pavlos
- Bone Biology & Disease Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | | | - Ivan Soldatovic
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatic, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jeroen van de Peppel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bram van der Eerden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wim van Hul
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Susanna Balcells
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, CIBERER, IBUB, IRSJD, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Janja Marc
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sjur Reppe
- Unger-Vetlesen Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kent Søe
- Clinical Cell Biology, Department of Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - David Karasik
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Marcus Research Institute, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, United States
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Jones TL, Esa MS, Li KHC, Krishnan SRG, Elgallab GM, Pearce MS, Young DA, Birrell FN. Osteoporosis, fracture, osteoarthritis & sarcopenia: A systematic review of circulating microRNA association. Bone 2021; 152:116068. [PMID: 34166859 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.116068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Circulating microRNAs (c-miRs) show promise as biomarkers. This systematic review explores their potential association with age-related fracture/osteoporosis (OP), osteoarthritis (OA) and sarcopenia (SP), as well as cross-disease association. Most overlap occurred between OA and OP, suggesting potentially shared microRNA activity. There was little agreement in results across studies. Few reported receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC) and many identified significant dysregulation in disease, but direction of effect was commonly conflicting. c-miRs with most evidence for consistency in dysregulation included miR-146a, miR-155 and miR-98 for OA (upregulated). Area under the curve (AUC) for miR-146a biomarker performance was AUC 0.92, p = 0.028. miR-125b (AUC 0.76-0.89), miR-100, miR-148a and miR-24 were consistently upregulated in OP. Insufficient evidence exists for c-miRs in SP. Study quality was typically rated intermediate/high risk of bias. Wide study heterogeneity meant meta-analysis was not possible. We provide detailed critique and recommendations for future approaches in c-miR analyses based on this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania L Jones
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, United Kingdom.
| | - Mohammed S Esa
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, United Kingdom.
| | - K H Christien Li
- Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - S R Gokul Krishnan
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom.
| | - George M Elgallab
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, Sciences Complex, City Campus, Chester Road, University of Sunderland, Sunderland SR1 3SD, United Kingdom
| | - Mark S Pearce
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, United Kingdom.
| | - David A Young
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, United Kingdom.
| | - Fraser N Birrell
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Building, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, United Kingdom; Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom.
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5
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Stuss M, Migdalska-Sek M, Brzezianska-Lasota E, Michalska-Kasiczak M, Bazela P, Sewerynek E. Assessment of Wnt pathway selected gene expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of postmenopausal patients with low bone mass. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2021; 21:461-470. [PMID: 33357212 PMCID: PMC8292866 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2020.5179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to assess the expression of selected genes of the Wnt pathway: APC, AXIN1, CTNNB1, DKK1, GSK3B, KREMEN1, SFRP1, and WNT1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients, selected in consideration of their bone mineral density (BMD), and the occurrence of low-energy fractures. The study involved 45 postmenopausal women, divided into four groups, according to BMD and fracture history. Measurements of laboratory parameters and RNA expression in PBMC cells were carried out in material, collected once at the inclusion visit. The densitometric examination was performed on all participants. In the analysis of the relative expression levels (RELs) of the studied genes in the entire population, we observed an overexpression for SFRP1 in 100% of samples and WNT1. In addition, the REL of DKK1, APC, and GSK3B genes were slightly elevated versus the calibrator. In contrast, CTNNB1 and AXIN1 presented with a slightly decreased RELs. Analysis did not show any significant differences among the groups in the relative gene expression levels (p < 0.05) of particular genes. However, we have observed quite numerous interesting correlations between the expression of the studied genes and BMD, the presence of fractures, and laboratory parameters, both in the whole studied population as well as in selected groups. In conclusion, the high level of CTNNB1 expression maintains normal BMD and/or protects against fractures. It also appears that the changes in expression levels of the Wnt pathway genes in PBMCs reflect the expected changes in bone tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Stuss
- Department of Endocrine Disorders and Bone Metabolism, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; Outpatient Clinic of Osteoporosis, Regional Center of Menopause and Osteoporosis, Military Medical Academy Memorial Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz - Central Veterans' Hospital, Lodz, Poland
| | - Monika Migdalska-Sek
- Outpatient Clinic of Osteoporosis, Regional Center of Menopause and Osteoporosis, Military Medical Academy Memorial Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz - Central Veterans' Hospital, Lodz, Poland; Department of Biomedicine and Genetics, Chair of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewa Brzezianska-Lasota
- Department of Biomedicine and Genetics, Chair of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Marta Michalska-Kasiczak
- Department of Endocrine Disorders and Bone Metabolism, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Pawel Bazela
- Department of Endocrine Disorders and Bone Metabolism, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ewa Sewerynek
- Department of Endocrine Disorders and Bone Metabolism, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; Outpatient Clinic of Osteoporosis, Regional Center of Menopause and Osteoporosis, Military Medical Academy Memorial Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz - Central Veterans' Hospital, Lodz, Poland
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6
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Donati S, Ciuffi S, Palmini G, Brandi ML. Circulating miRNAs: A New Opportunity in Bone Fragility. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10060927. [PMID: 32570976 PMCID: PMC7355961 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoporosis, one of the leading causes of bone fractures, is characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, which are associated with a consequent increase in bone fragility and predisposition to fracture. Current screening tools are limited in estimating the proper assessment of fracture risk, highlighting the need to discover novel more suitable biomarkers. Genetic and environmental factors are both implicated in this disease. Increasing evidence suggests that epigenetics and, in particular, miRNAs, may represent a link between these factors and an increase of fracture risk. miRNAs are a class of small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression. In the last decade, several miRNAs have been associated with the development of osteoporosis and bone fracture risk, opening up new possibilities in precision medicine. Recently, these molecules have been identified in several biological fluids, and the possible existence of a circulating miRNA (c-miRNA) signature years before the fracture occurrence is suggested. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the c-miRNAs suggested as promising biomarkers for osteoporosis up until now, which could be helpful for early diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response, as well as fracture risk assessment, in osteoporotic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Donati
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Study of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.D.); (S.C.); (G.P.)
| | - Simone Ciuffi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Study of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.D.); (S.C.); (G.P.)
| | - Gaia Palmini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Study of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.D.); (S.C.); (G.P.)
| | - Maria Luisa Brandi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Study of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.D.); (S.C.); (G.P.)
- Unit of Bone and Mineral Diseases, University Hospital of Florence, Largo Palagi 1, 50139 Florence, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-055-7946304; Fax: +39-055-7946303
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