Association of rs1137101 polymorphism in LEPR and susceptibility to knee osteoarthritis in a Northwest Chinese Han population

Circulating leptin level in osteoarthritis and associations between leptin receptor polymorphisms and disease susceptibility: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to systemically review the evidence on the relationship between the circulating leptin levels and osteoarthritis (OA), and the association between leptin and leptin receptor (LEPR) polymorphisms and OA susceptibility.

METHODS

To find relevant papers (up to February 2023) examining the association between circulating leptin levels, LEPR polymorphisms, and OA, the PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the levels of synovial and serum/plasma leptin in OA patients compared with healthy controls, as well as the relationship between OA and LEPR polymorphisms.

RESULTS

Data from 15 investigations, totaling 2197 patients with OA and 2546 controls, were included in the meta-analysis. There were statistically significant differences in the levels of circulating leptin between the OA and control groups (standardized mean difference [SMD] 2.178, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.208-3.139, P = 0.001). Leptin levels were also substantially greater in European, Asian, and Arab groups among OA patients. After adjusting for age, sex, and/or body mass index, the leptin levels of patients with OA were significantly higher. Similarly, regardless of sample size (n < 100 and n ≥ 100) or year of publication, leptin levels were considerably higher in the OA group. In addition, the synovial leptin level was greater in the OA group than in the control group (SMD 0.783; 95% CI 0.247-1.319, P = 0.004). In the LEPR rs1137101 polymorphism, the OA and AA genotypes were significantly associated (odds ratio 0.282, 95% CI 0.126-0.629, P = 0.002), according to the meta-analysis. Ethnic stratification revealed an association between OA and the LEPR rs1137101 AA genotype in Asian and Arab populations.

CONCLUSION

The results of this meta-analysis indicate that patients with OA had considerably greater levels of circulating leptin than did control individuals. In addition, synovial leptin levels were greater in OA patients than in healthy individuals, and the LEPR rs1137101 polymorphism was linked to an increased risk of developing OA. These results imply that leptin participates in the onset and progression of OA.

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.

Genetic association scan of 32 osteoarthritis susceptibility genes identified TP63 associated with an endemic osteoarthritis, Kashin-Beck disease

BACKGROUND

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is an endemic chronic osteochondropathy. The clinical manifestations and radiographic features of adult KBD were similar to those of osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

We first performed a genetic association scan of 32 OA susceptibility genes with KBD in 898 Han Chinese subjects. The MassARRAY genotyping system (Agena) was used for SNP genotyping. PLINK 1.9 was used for quality control and association testing. Using articular cartilage specimens from 7 adult KBD patients and 4 control subjects, lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi), qRT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were employed to explore the functional relevance of TP63 to KBD chondrocyte.

RESULTS

SNP genotyping and association analysis identified TP63 (rs12107036, P = 0.005, OR = 0.71) and OARD1 (rs11280, P = 0.004, OR = 1.51) were significantly associated with KBD. It was also found that TP63 was significantly up-regulated in KBD articular cartilage in both mRNA and protein level compared with the controls (P < 0.05). TP63 suppression by lentivirus-mediated RNAi notably decreased the abundance of Caspase3 and SOX9 in chondrocytes. Most importantly, compared with the scrambled sequence (shControl) group, the protein level of ACAN was increased in the shTP63 group. The mRNA expression of chondrocyte marker genes (COL2A1 and ACAN) was not significantly changed after TP63 knockdown relative to shControl group.

CONCLUSION

Our study identifies TP63 as a novel susceptibility gene for KBD, and demonstrates that the inhibition of TP63 suppresses chondrocyte apoptosis and partly facilitates chondrogenesis. The combination of SNP genotyping and molecular biology techniques provides a useful tool for understanding the biological mechanism and differential diagnosis studies of KBD and OA.

Association of Leptin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms with Keloids in the Chinese Han Population

BACKGROUND The association between leptin receptor (LEPR) polymorphisms and keloids is still unclear. Our study aimed to explore the association between LEPR gene polymorphisms and keloids in the Chinese Han population. MATERIAL AND METHODS We implemented a case-control study in a cohort of 352 keloid patients and 299 healthy controls to analyze the correlation between 4 SNPs (rs1137101, rs1938496, rs6588147, and rs7555955) and keloids. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood by using TGuide M16 (Tiangen). Genotyping of LEPR SNPs was performed using an improved multiple ligase detection reaction (iMLDR) by Shanghai Genesky Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. RESULTS We found that patients caring the AA genotype of rs1137101 and the CC genotype rs1938496 tend to have the increased risk of keloids (P=0.026, P=0.047). Carrying the GA, AA gene type, and G allele frequencies of rs7555955, patients were more likely to have to keloids (P=0.030, P=0.016, P=0.018, respectively). There were no significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequencies of rs6588147 between cases and controls. The association of rs1137101 and rs7555955 under dominant, recessive, and allele models exhibited significant differences among family-history keloid patients, no-family-history keloid groups, and normal controls (χ²=6.471, P=0.039; χ²=6.477, P=0.039; χ²=6.197, P=0.045, respectively). Similarly, the OR of rs1137101 in the recessive model was significantly higher in patients with a family history of keloids than those in controls. Nonetheless, there are significant ORs of rs1938496 and rs6588147 among the mild-moderate keloid, severe keloid, and control groups. CONCLUSIONS The LEPR gene polymorphisms are associated with keloid formation and severity, especially in patients with a positive family history.

Whole-transcriptome sequencing of knee joint cartilage from osteoarthritis patients

Objectives

The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive understanding of alterations in messenger RNAs (mRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in cartilage affected by osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

The expression profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in OA cartilage were assessed using whole-transcriptome sequencing. Bioinformatics analyses included prediction and reannotation of novel lncRNAs and circRNAs, their classification, and their placement into subgroups. Gene ontology and pathway analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), and differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs). We focused on the overlap of DEGs and targets of DELs previously identified in seven high-throughput studies. The top ten DELs were verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in articular chondrocytes, both in vitro and in vivo.

Results

In total, 739 mRNAs, 1152 lncRNAs, and 42 circRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in OA cartilage tissue. Among these, we identified 18 overlapping DEGs and targets of DELs, and the top ten DELs were screened by expression profile analysis as candidate OA-related genes. WISP2, ATF3, and CHI3L1 were significantly increased in both normal versus OA tissues and normal versus interleukin (IL)-1β-induced OA-like cell models, while ADAM12, PRELP, and ASPN were shown to be significantly decreased. Among the identified DELs, we observed higher expression of ENST00000453554 and MSTRG.99593.3, and lower expression of MSTRG.44186.2 and NONHSAT186094.1 in normal versus OA cells and tissues.

Conclusion

This study revealed expression patterns of coding and noncoding RNAs in OA cartilage, which added sets of genes and noncoding RNAs to the list of candidate diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic agents for OA patients.

Cite this article: H. Li, H. H. Yang, Z. G. Sun, H. B. Tang, J. K. Min. Whole-transcriptome sequencing of knee joint cartilage from osteoarthritis patients. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:290–303. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.87.BJR-2018-0297.R1.

Potential candidate biomarkers associated with osteoarthritis: Evidence from a comprehensive network and pathway analysis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common forms of arthritis world widely. Some key genes and diagnostic markers have been reported due to the development of modern molecular biology technologies. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of OA remains unknown. In this study, an integrated network and pathway analysis towards the biological function of OA-associated genes was conducted to provide valuable information to further explore the etiology and pathogenesis of OA. A total of 2,548 genes which reported a statistically significant association with OA were screened. An integrated network and pathway analysis was performed to identify the pathways and genes most associated to OA. Moreover, OA-specific protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by cytocluster based on the Molecular Complex Detection Algorithm (MCODE) to screen its candidate biomarkers. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the expression levels and to validate the results of MCODE cluster analysis by six genes. The pathway networks suggested that extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, collagen degradation and collagen formation showed important associations with OA. In top two PPI clusters, 61 of the OA-associated genes were included in the OA-specific PPI network, which also included 23 candidate genes that are likely to be highly associated with OA based on MCODE clusters. Analysis of mRNA showed that the expression levels of COL9A1, COL9A2, ITGA3, COL9A3, ITGA2, and LAMA1 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of OA patients were significantly lower than those of the normal controls (p<0.005). To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive and systematic report based on OA-related genes demonstrating that the functional destruction of collagen in cartilage may be a very important contributing factor to OA. Quantitative detection of collagen synthesis may be of great help in early identification and prediction of OA. Maintaining the quality and quantity of collagen can be a potential target for clinical treatment of OA in the future practice.

The influence of the rs1137101 genotypes of leptin receptor gene on the demographic and metabolic profile of normal Saudi females and those suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is of frequent occurrence in Saudi females and is often associated with obesity, insulin resistance, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and infertility. Since these features are also associated with leptin receptor (LEP-R) deficiency, several studies have attempted to link LEP-R gene polymorphisms to PCOS.

METHODS

The purpose of this study is to assess the possible association of LEP-R gene polymorphism (rs1137101) with the main obesity-linked metabolic parameters in Saudi female patients affected by PCOS. A cohort of 122 Saudi female subjects, attending the outpatient's clinics at Makkah, Saudi Arabia and diagnosed with PCOS was investigated. Metabolic parameters in serum samples, including lipidogram, glucose, leptin, ghrelin and insulin and obesity markers (BMI, W/H ratio, HOMA) were assayed and compared with values from 130 healthy female volunteers (controls). The genotyping of rs1137101 polymorphism in the leptin receptor gene by amplification (PCR) followed by DNA sequencing, was conducted in both groups (PCOS and controls).

RESULTS

Waist/hip ratio (W/H ratio), leptin serum levels and triglycerides appeared to be associated with PCOS but, aside from W/H ratio (AA s GG p = 0.009), this association also occurred for controls. No significant association in the leptin gene polymorphic locus rs1137101 with PCOS was seen in the results of the present study. In the control group, BMI, W/H ratio, leptin, Insulin, and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the GG genotype compared to AA.

CONCLUSION

Despite previous suggestion about a relationship between rs1137101, serum leptin levels, and PCOS, our studies do not show any statistical association and further investigations; possibly by also evaluating obese patients should be needed to elucidate this issue better.

Study of rs1137101 polymorphism of leptin receptor gene with serum levels of selenium and copper in the patients of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in an Iranian population

OBJECTIVE

NSTEMI is a type of myocardial infarction (MI) causing partial but progressive occlusion of cardiac coronary vessels. The aim of this study was to investigate rs1137101 polymorphism of soluble leptin receptor (sLEPR) as well as circulatory selenium and copper levels in NSTEMI patients and their usefulness in analyzing susceptibility to NSTEMI.

METHODS

We collected sera and whole blood of 80 NSTEMI patients and 80 healthy individuals using cTnI levels plus electrocardiography as the "gold standard". Polymorphism analysis was done after DNA extraction by high-resolution melt PCR, selenium and copper levels by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and sLEPR by ELISA.

RESULTS AND DISCUTION

There was Hardy-Weinberg (HWE) equilibrium for both patient and control loci (χ2 = 0.368434509 and 0.341447368, respectively). The frequencies of A/A, A/G, and G/G genotypes were 18 (22%), 37 (46%), and 25 (31%) for patients, and 30 (38%), 36 (45%), and 14 (18%) for healthy controls, respectively. The frequencies of A and G alleles were 73 (46%) and 87 (54%) for patients and 96 (60%) and 64 (40%) for control groups. There was correlation between allele G and sLEPR level and Body Mass Index (BMI). Selenium levels were lower in patient group than control group (66.307 ± 11.013 against 87.488 ± 11.839 μg/L; p < 0.001) but copper concentrations were higher (1.8105 ± 0.358 against 1.366 ± 0.454 mg/L; p < 0.001). sLEPR levels were also higher in patient than control group (30.568 ± 3.290 against 23.740 ± 5.457 ng/dL; p < .001). Low selenium and high copper concentration had positive diagnostic value for disease.

CONCLUSION

We find for the first time that there is a significant association between rs1137101 polymorphism and susceptibility to NSTEMI. There is also statistically meaningful association between decrease in serum selenium and increase in serum copper levels with susceptibility to NSTEMI.

IL1R1 gene polymorphisms are associated with knee osteoarthritis risk in the Chinese Han population

IL1R1, encoding interleukin 1 receptor type 1, is located in the IL-1 gene cluster and is involved in the pathogenesis of hand, hip, and knee osteoarthritis (OA) in different ethnicities. However, the link between IL1R1 polymorphisms and OA risk in the Chinese Han population is unknown. We studied the association between five IL1R1 polymorphisms (rs10490571, rs12712127, rs956730, rs3917225, and rs3917318) and OA risk by analyzing the genotypes of 298 knee OA patients and 297 controls using Sequenom MassARRAY technology. Logistic regression analysis after adjusting for gender and age revealed significant differences in the allele frequencies of IL1R1 rs956730 and IL1R1 rs3917225 between patients and controls. In addition, IL1R1 rs3917225 was associated with increased risk of knee OA with or without adjustment by age and gender in the dominant model (adjusted OR= 1.47, 95%CI: 1.04-2.07, P = 0.030), the recessive model (adjusted OR= 1.75, 95%CI: 1.08-2.85, P= 0.023), and the additive model (adjusted OR= 1.40, 95%CI: 1.09-1.79, P = 0.007). This study is the first to report that IL1R1 polymorphisms are associated with knee OA susceptibility in the Northwestern Chinese Han population.