An intron polymorphism of the fibronectin gene is associated with end-stage knee osteoarthritis in a Han Chinese population: two independent case-control studies

Molecular crosstalk between articular cartilage, meniscus, synovium, and subchondral bone in osteoarthritis

AIMS

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease worldwide, which is characterized by articular cartilage lesions. With more understanding of the disease, OA is considered to be a disorder of the whole joint. However, molecular communication within and between tissues during the disease process is still unclear. In this study, we used transcriptome data to reveal crosstalk between different tissues in OA.

METHODS

We used four groups of transcription profiles acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, including articular cartilage, meniscus, synovium, and subchondral bone, to screen differentially expressed genes during OA. Potential crosstalk between tissues was depicted by ligand-receptor pairs.

RESULTS

During OA, there were 626, 97, 1,060, and 2,330 differentially expressed genes in articular cartilage, meniscus, synovium, and subchondral bone, respectively. Gene Ontology enrichment revealed that these genes were enriched in extracellular matrix and structure organization, ossification, neutrophil degranulation, and activation at different degrees. Through ligand-receptor pairing and proteome of OA synovial fluid, we predicted ligand-receptor interactions and constructed a crosstalk atlas of the whole joint. Several interactions were reproduced by transwell experiment in chondrocytes and synovial cells, including TNC-NT5E, TNC-SDC4, FN1-ITGA5, and FN1-NT5E. After lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin (IL)-1β stimulation, the ligand expression of chondrocytes and synovial cells was upregulated, and corresponding receptors of co-culture cells were also upregulated.

CONCLUSION

Each tissue displayed a different expression pattern in transcriptome, demonstrating their specific roles in OA. We highlighted tissue molecular crosstalk through ligand-receptor pairs in OA pathophysiology, and generated a crosstalk atlas. Strategies to interfere with these candidate ligands and receptors may help to discover molecular targets for future OA therapy.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(12):862-872.

Polymorphisms of fibronectin-1 (rs3796123; rs1968510; rs10202709; rs6725958; and rs35343655) are not associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease that mainly affects premature newborns. Many different factors, increasingly genetic, are involved in the pathogenesis of BPD. The aim of the study is to investigate the possible influence of fibronectin SNP on the occurrence of BPD. The study included 108 infants born between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation. BPD was diagnosed based on the National Institutes of Health Consensus definition. The 5 FN1 gene polymorphisms assessed in the study were the following: rs3796123; rs1968510; rs10202709; rs6725958; and rs35343655. BPD developed in 30 (27.8%) out of the 108 preterm infants. Incidence of BPD was higher in infants with lower APGAR scores and low birthweight. Investigation did not confirm any significant prevalence for BPD development in any genotypes and alleles of FN1. Further studies should be performed to confirm the role of genetic factors in etiology and pathogenesis of BPD.

Role of Fibronectin-1 polymorphism genes with the pathogenesis of intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a dangerous complication facing a significant proportion of preterm infants. It is multifactorial in nature, and an observed fibronectin deficiency in the germinal matrix basal lamina is among the most prominent factors that influence such rupture. Better understanding of the FN1 gene polymorphisms and their role in IVH may further clarify the presence of a genetic susceptibility of certain babies to this complication. The aim of this study was to assess if 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms of the fibronectin gene may be linked to an increased incidence of IVH.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 108 infants born between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation. IVH was diagnosed using cranial ultrasound performed on the 1st,3rd, and 7th day after birth and classified according to Papile et al. IVH classification. The 5 FN1 gene polymorphisms assessed in the study were the following: rs3796123; rs1968510; rs10202709; rs6725958; and rs35343655.

RESULTS

IVH developed in 51 (47.2%) out of the 108 preterm infants. This includes, 18 (35.3%) with stage I IVH, 19 (37.3%) with stage II, 11 (21.6%) with stage III, and 3 (5.9%) with stage IV IVH. Incidence of IVH was higher in infants with lower APGAR scores, low gestational age, and low birthweight. Analysis showed that IVH stage II to IV was approximately seven times more likely to occur in infants with the genotype TT FN1 rs10202709 (OR 7237 (1046-79.59; p = 0,044)). No other significant association was found with the rest of the polymorphisms.

CONCLUSION

The results of our study indicate a sevenfold increased genetic susceptibility to IVH in preterm infants with the TT FN1 rs10202709 gene polymorphism. The fibronectin gene polymorphism may therefore be of crucial importance as a genetic risk factor for IVH in preterm infants. Further studies are warranted.

[Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis in chronic hepatitis C: Genetic aspects]

Cryoglobulinemia (CG) is detected in more than 50% of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC); however, only 15-25% of them develop cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) that is a systemic vasculitis due to the formation of immune deposits, which affects small (less than medium-sized) vessels and which is frequently fatal for the patient. The causes of CG only in some patients with CHC and the pathogenesis of CV remain unstudied; however, the accumulated data allow one to identify the special contribution of the patient's genetic factors to the development of the disease. The paper considers the genetic aspects of the development of CG and CV in CHC.

Genetic association of the polymorphisms in apoptosis-related genes with osteoarthritis susceptibility in Chinese Han population

BACKGROUND

Apoptosis is a normal physiological process in organs development, but excessive apoptosis is pathological and harmful. In previous studies, apoptosis-related genes are considered to be involved in the onset of osteoarthritis, but the mechanism is unclear. Therefore, we selected two common polymorphisms of apoptosis-related genes (BAX -248G>A, BCL2 -717C>A) to explore the relationship with osteoarthritis.

METHODS

The two polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerse chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 134 cases with osteoarthritis and 142 controls. These genotypes distributions in controls were checked whether conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). χ² test was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) which evaluated the strength of association between gene polymorphism and osteoarthritis susceptibility.

RESULTS

The χ² test showed that genotype frequencies of BAX -248G>A (rs4645878), BCL2 -717C>A (rs2279115) polymorphisms in control group were consistent with HWE. In BAX -248G>A polymorphism, compared with mutant genotype GA+AA, the common genotype GG increased the susceptibility to osteoarthritis significantly (OR=1.84, 95% CI=1.13-3.00), so G allele was (OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.16-2.68). The homozygous mutant genotype AA in BCL2 -717C>A carriers easily suffered from osteoarthritis in some condition, compared with CC genotype (P=0.03). A allele also increased 0.43 times risk of osteoarthritis development than C allele (OR=1.43, 95% CI=1.02-2.00).

CONCLUSIONS

BAX -248G>A and BCL2 -717C>A polymorphisms may be the independent risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis.