Elevated expression of MMP8 and MMP9 contributes to diabetic osteoarthritis progression in a rat model

Combined effect of pantoprazole and mesenchymal stem cells on experimentally induced gastric ulcer: implication of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis pathways

Gastric ulcer (GU) is one of the most common diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract that affects millions of people worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the possible alleviating effect of a combined treatment of pantoprazole (PANTO) and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) in comparison with each treatment alone on the healing process of the experimentally induced GU in rats, and to uncover the involved pathways. Rats were divided into five groups: (1) Control, (2) GU, (3) PANTO, (4) ADSCs and (5) ADSCs + PANTO. Markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis were assessed. The current data indicated that PANTO-, ADSCs- and ADSCs + PANTO-treated groups showed significant drop (p < 0.05) in serum advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEPs) along with significant elevation (p < 0.05) in serum TAC versus the untreated GU group. Moreover, the treated groups (PANTO, ADSCs and ADSCs + PANTO) displayed significant down-regulation (p < 0.05) in gastric nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and caspase-3 along with significant up-regulation (p < 0.05) in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) genes expression compared to the untreated GU group. Immunohistochemical examination of gastric tissue for transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) showed moderate to mild and weak immune reactions, respectively in the PANTO-, ADSCs- and ADSCs + PANTO-treated rat. Histopathological investigation of gastric tissue revealed moderate to slight histopathological alterations and almost normal histological features of the epithelial cells, gastric mucosal layer, muscularis mucosa and submucosa in PANTO-, ADSCs- and ADSCs + PANTO-treated rats, respectively. Conclusively, the co-treatment with ADSCs and PANTO evidenced sententious physiological protection against GU by suppressing oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammation and reducing apoptosis with consequent acceleration of gastric tissue healing process.

Identification of key genes and immune infiltration in osteoarthritis through analysis of zinc metabolism-related genes

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) represents a prominent etiology of considerable pain and disability, and conventional imaging methods lack sensitivity in diagnosing certain types of OA. Therefore, there is a need to identify highly sensitive and efficient biomarkers for OA diagnosis. Zinc ions feature in the pathogenesis of OA. This work aimed to investugate the role of zinc metabolism-related genes (ZMRGs) in OA and the diagnostic characteristics of key genes.

METHODS

We obtained datasets GSE169077 and GSE55235 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and obtained ZMRGs from MSigDB. Differential expression analysis was conducted on the GSE169077 dataset using the limma R package to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and the intersection of DEGs and ZMRGs yielded zinc metabolism differential expression-related genes (ZMRGs-DEGs). The clusterProfiler R package was employed for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of ZMRGs-DEGs. Potential small molecule drugs were predicted using the CMap database, and immune cell infiltration and function in OA individuals were analyzed using the ssGSEA method. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed to detect Hub genes among ZMRGs-DEGs. Hub gene expression levels were analyzed in the GSE169077 and GSE55235 datasets, and their diagnostic characteristics were assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The gene-miRNA interaction network of Hub genes was explored using the gene-miRNA interaction network website.

RESULTS

We identified 842 DEGs in the GSE169077 dataset, and their intersection with ZMRGs resulted in 46 ZMRGs-DEGs. ZMRGs-DEGs were primarily enriched in functions such as collagen catabolic processes, extracellular matrix organization, metallopeptidase activity, and pathways like the IL-17 signaling pathway, Nitrogen metabolism, and Relaxin signaling pathway. Ten potential small-molecule drugs were predicted using the CMap database. OA patients exhibited distinct immune cell abundance and function compared to healthy individuals. We identified 4 Hub genes (MMP2, MMP3, MMP9, MMP13) through the PPI network, which were highly expressed in OA and demonstrated good diagnostic performance. Furthermore, two closely related miRNAs for each of the 4 Hub genes were identified.

CONCLUSION

4 Hub genes were identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for OA.

The TIMP protein family: diverse roles in pathophysiology

The tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are a family of four matrisome proteins classically defined by their roles as the primary endogenous inhibitors of metalloproteinases (MPs). Their functions however are not limited to MP inhibition, with each family member harboring numerous MP-independent biological functions that play key roles in processes such as inflammation and apoptosis. Because of these multifaceted functions, TIMPs have been cited in diverse pathophysiological contexts. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of the MP-dependent and -independent roles of TIMPs across a range of pathological conditions. The potential therapeutic and biomarker applications of TIMPs in these disease contexts are also considered, highlighting the biomedical promise of this complex and often misunderstood protein family.

Exploring relationships among multi-disciplinary assessments for knee joint health in service members with traumatic unilateral lower limb loss: a two-year longitudinal investigation

Motivated by the complex and multifactorial etiologies of osteoarthritis, here we use a comprehensive approach evaluating knee joint health after unilateral lower limb loss. Thirty-eight male Service members with traumatic, unilateral lower limb loss (mean age = 38 yr) participated in a prospective, two-year longitudinal study comprehensively evaluating contralateral knee joint health (i.e., clinical imaging, gait biomechanics, physiological biomarkers, and patient-reported outcomes); seventeen subsequently returned for a two-year follow-up visit. For this subset with baseline and follow-up data, outcomes were compared between timepoints, and associations evaluated between values at baseline with two-year changes in tri-compartmental joint space. Upon follow-up, knee joint health worsened, particularly among seven Service members who presented at baseline with no joint degeneration (KL = 0) but returned with evidence of degeneration (KL ≥ 1). Joint space narrowing was associated with greater patellar tilt (r[12] = 0.71, p = 0.01), external knee adduction moment (r[13] = 0.64, p = 0.02), knee adduction moment impulse (r[13] = 0.61, p = 0.03), and CTX-1 concentration (r[11] = 0.83, p = 0.001), as well as lesser KOOSSport and VR-36General Health (r[16] = - 0.69, p = 0.01 and r[16] = - 0.69, p = 0.01, respectively). This longitudinal, multi-disciplinary investigation highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to evaluate the fast-progressing onset of knee osteoarthritis, particularly among relatively young Service members with lower limb loss.

A comprehensive analysis of biomarkers associated with synovitis and chondrocyte apoptosis in osteoarthritis

Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease with high morbidity and disability rates whose molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study sought to identify OA markers associated with synovitis and cartilage apoptosis by bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

A total of five gene-expression profiles were selected from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We combined the GEO with the GeneCards database and performed Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome analyses; then, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to identify the characteristic genes, and a predictive risk score was established. We used the uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) method to identify subtypes of OA patients, while the CytoHubba algorithm and GOSemSim R package were used to screen out hub genes. Next, an immunological assessment was performed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis and CIBERSORTx.

Results

A total of 56OA-related differential genes were selected, and 10 characteristic genes were identified by the LASSO algorithm. OA samples were classified into cluster 1 and cluster 2 subtypes byUMAP, and the clustering results showed that the characteristic genes were significantly different between these groups. MYOC, CYP4B1, P2RY14, ADIPOQ, PLIN1, MFAP5, and LYVE1 were highly expressed in cluster 2, and ANKHLRC15, CEMIP, GPR88, CSN1S1, TAC1, and SPP1 were highly expressed in cluster 1. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that MMP9, COL1A, and IGF1 were high nodes, and the differential genes affected the IL-17 pathway and tumor necrosis factor pathway. The GOSemSim R package showed that ADIPOQ, COL1A, and SPP1 are closely related to the function of 31 hub genes. In addition, it was determined that mmp9 and Fos interact with multiple transcription factors, and the ssGSEA and CIBERSORTx algorithms revealed significant differences in immune infiltration between the two OA subtypes. Finally, a qPCR experiment was performed to explore the important genes in rat cartilage and synovium tissues; the qPCR results showed that COL1A and IL-17A were both highly expressed in synovitis tissues and cartilage tissues of OA rats, which is consistent with the predicted results.

Discussion

In the future, common therapeutic targets might be found forsimultaneous remissions of both phenotypes of OA.

Differential Gene Expression Among Patients With Heart Failure Experiencing Pain

BACKGROUND

Chronic pain is frequently experienced by patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with higher mortality, higher symptom burden, and worsened health-related quality of life. However, the genomic mechanisms underlying chronic pain in HF are understudied. Building an understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of pain may inform novel interventions.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to identify genes associated with pain from messenger RNA sequence data collected from patients with HF with and without pain.

METHODS

The current study analyzed data from 40 patients with HF previously enrolled in a clinical trial. Pain presence was measured using the Health Utilities Index Mark-3. Genes were tested for differential expression using DESeq2, and differentially expressed genes were analyzed for protein-protein interaction (PPI) and relevant ontological pathways using Metascape. Genes located within the core of the PPI network were considered key in disease-relevant biological pathways. Differentially expressed genes within this PPI network were reviewed in existing literature to narrow down candidate genes of interest. These target genes of interest were reanalyzed in a second sample of 24 patients with HF using validation quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

A total of 334 genes (279 upregulated, 55 downregulated) were differentially expressed between patients with and without pain in the primary sample of 40. These genes were largely aligned with neutrophil degranulation pathways. Seven genes of interest were identified from a core network of 15 co-expressed genes in the PPI network and existing literature. Three of these seven genes, matrix metallopeptidase 8 ( MMP8 ), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 ( PCSK9 ), and neutrophil defensin 3 ( DEFA3 ), were upregulated in patients with pain versus without pain in both the primary and validation samples. All seven genes of interest are involved in immune, inflammatory, and atherosclerotic processes.

DISCUSSION

These results identify potential genes that may play a mechanistic role in chronic pain in HF. Further research is needed to evaluate these potential genes among clearly delineated pain phenotypes.

Osteopontin: A Bone-Derived Protein Involved in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis Immunopathology

Osteopontin (OPN) is a bone-derived phosphoglycoprotein related to physiological and pathological mechanisms that nowadays has gained relevance due to its role in the immune system response to chronic degenerative diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). OPN is an extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein that plays a critical role in bone remodeling. Therefore, it is an effector molecule that promotes joint and cartilage destruction observed in clinical studies, in vitro assays, and animal models of RA and OA. Since OPN undergoes multiple modifications, including posttranslational changes, proteolytic cleavage, and binding to a wide range of receptors, the mechanisms by which it produces its effects, in some cases, remain unclear. Although there is strong evidence that OPN contributes significantly to the immunopathology of RA and OA when considering it as a common denominator molecule, some experimental trial results argue for its protective role in rheumatic diseases. Elucidating in detail OPN involvement in bone and cartilage degeneration is of interest to the field of rheumatology. This review aims to provide evidence of the OPN’s multifaceted role in promoting joint and cartilage destruction and propose it as a common denominator of AR and OA immunopathology.

Individual immune cell and cytokine profiles determine platelet-rich plasma composition

OBJECTIVE

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is increasingly popular to treat musculoskeletal diseases, including tendinopathies and osteoarthritis (OA). To date, it remains unclear to which extent PRP compositions are determined by the immune cell and cytokine profile of individuals or by the preparation method. To investigate this, we compared leukocyte and cytokine distributions of different PRP products to donor blood samples and assessed the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on chondrocytes.

DESIGN

For each of three PRP preparations (ACP®, Angel™, and nSTRIDE® APS), products were derived using whole blood samples from twelve healthy donors. The cellular composition of PRP products was analyzed by flow cytometry using DURAClone antibody panels (DURAClone IM Phenotyping Basic and DURAClone IM T Cell Subsets). The MESO QuickPlex SQ 120 system was used to assess cytokine profiles (V-PLEX Proinflammatory Panel 1 Human Kit, Meso Scale Discovery). Primary human chondrocyte 2D and 3D in vitro cultures were exposed to recombinant IFN-γ and TNF-α. Proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation were quantitatively assessed.

RESULTS

All three PRP products showed elevated portions of leukocytes compared to baseline levels in donor blood. Furthermore, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly increased in nSTRIDE® APS samples compared to donor blood and other PRP products. The characteristics of all other cytokines and immune cells from the donor blood, including pro-inflammatory T cell subsets, were maintained in all PRP products. Chondrocyte proliferation was impaired by IFN-γ and enhanced by TNF-α treatment. Differentiation and cartilage formation were compromised upon treatment with both cytokines, resulting in altered messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of collagen type 1A1 (COL1A1), COL2A1, and aggrecan (ACAN) as well as reduced proteoglycan content.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with elevated levels of cells with pro-inflammatory properties maintain these in the final PRP products. The concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines strongly varies between PRP products. These observations may help to unravel the previously described heterogeneous response to PRP in OA therapy, especially as IFN-γ and TNF-α impacted primary chondrocyte proliferation and their characteristic gene expression profile. Both the individual's immune profile and the concentration method appear to impact the final PRP product.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was prospectively registered in the Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS) on 4 November 2021 (registration number DRKS00026175).

Elucidation of the Key Therapeutic Targets and Potential Mechanisms of Marmesine against Knee Osteoarthritis via Network Pharmacological Analysis and Molecular Docking

Background

Marmesine, a major active ingredient isolated from Radix Angelicae biseratae (Duhuo), has been reported to have multiple pharmacological activities. However, its therapeutic effects against knee osteoarthritis (OA) remain poorly investigated. The present study is aimed at uncovering the core targets and signaling pathways of marmesine against osteoarthritis using a combined method of bioinformatics and network pharmacology.

Methods

We utilized SwissTargetPrediction and PharmMapper to collect the potential targets of marmesine. OA-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from GSE98918 dataset. Then, the intersection genes between DEGs and candidate genes of marmesine were subjected to protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and functional enrichment analysis. The core targets were verified using the molecular docking technology.

Results

A total of 320 marmesine-related genes and 5649 DEGs and 60 ingredient-disease targets between them were identified. The results of functional enrichment analyses revealed that response to oxygen levels, neuroinflammatory response, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, and osteoclast differentiation was identified as the potential mechanisms of marmesine against OA. EGFR, CASP3, MMP9, PPARG, and MAPK1 served as hub genes regulated by marmesine in the treatment of OA, and the molecular docking further verified the results.

Conclusion

Marmesine exerts the therapeutic effects against OA through multitarget and multipathways, in which EGFR, CASP3, MMP9, PPARG, and MAPK1 might be hub genes. Our research indicated that the combination of bioinformatics and network pharmacology could serve as an effective approach for investigating the potential mechanisms of natural product.

Evaluation of the Multiple Tissue Factors in the Cartilage of Primary and Secondary Rhinoplasty in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is one of the craniofacial defects. The objective of this study was to identify the differences in appearance between the tissue factors in cartilage of CLP patients after primary and secondary rhinoplasty. Immunohistochemistry was performed with MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-2, IL-1α, IL-10, bFGF, and TGFβ1. The quantification of the structures was performed using a semi-quantitative census method. MMP-2, -9, IL-1a, and bFGF demonstrated higher number of positive cells in patients, while the number of MMP-8, IL-1a, -10 and TGFβ1 cells was higher or equal in the control subjects. The only statistically significant difference between CLP-operated patients was found in the TIMP-2 group, where the primary CLP patient group had a higher number of TIMP-2 positive chondrocytes than the secondary CLP patient group (U = 53.5; p = 0.021). The median value of the primary CLP group was ++ number of TIMP-2 positive chondrocytes compared to +++ in the secondary CLP group. No statistically significant difference was found between primary and secondary rhinoplasty patients for other tissue factors. Commonly, the rich expression of different tissue factors suggests a stimulation of higher elasticity in cleft affected cartilage. The statistically significant TIMP-2 elevation in primary operated cartilage indicates an impact of the selective tissue remodeling for hard tissue.

Immunoregulation and anti-metalloproteinase bioactive injectable polysalicylate matrixgel for efficiently treating osteoarthritis

Current treatments of osteoarthritis, such as oral medication and intra-articular injections, only provided temporary relief from pain and achieved limited advance in inhibiting progression. The development of new treatments is hindered by the complicated and unclear pathological mechanisms. Oxidative stress and immune inflammation are believed to be the important factors in the induction and progression of osteoarthritis. Herein, this work presents a bioactive material strategy to treat osteoarthritis, based on the FPSOH matrixgel with robust anti-inflammatory activity through inhibiting the oxidative stress and nuclear factor kappa B signaling, preventing the metalloproteinase, as well as inducing M2 polarization of macrophage, thereby providing immune regulation of synovial macrophages and suppressing the progression of synovitis and osteoarthritis. In vivo experiments demonstrated that FPSOH hydrogel can prevent papain-induced osteoarthritis and its progression, and provide dual protection for cartilage and synovium, as compared with commercial sodium hyaluronate.

Experimental functional shift-induced osteoarthritis-like changes at the TMJ and altered integrin expression in a rat model

Mandibular deviation affects the biomechanical environment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and causes thinning of cartilage on the deviated side. We aimed to evaluate, using a rat model, the effect of mandibular functional deviation on the TMJ in relation to the functional roles of integrin β family members. The effects of experimental functional deviation on the TMJ of 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley female rats, randomly assigned to control (n = 42) and experimental groups (n = 42), were evaluated at 3 days and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks by histological staining, immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and micro-computed tomography. The results showed that the experimental functional shift changed the shape of condyles, thinned the cartilage, and increased the proportion of the hypertrophic layer on the deviated sides of condyles. In addition, the extracellular matrix of the condyle cartilage exhibited degradation at 1 week and subchondral trabecular bone was lost at 4 and 8 weeks. Osteoarthritis (OA)-like changes occurred in the left and right condyles of rats in the experimental group and were aggravated over time. Integrin β family expression, especially integrin β₂ , was altered from week 1, possibly related to the OA-like changes. These data may provide insight into the onset of TMJ OA.

Quantitative proteomic analysis comparing grades ICRS1 and ICRS3 in patients with osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), which is caused by joint damage, is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. This damage can accumulate over time, which is why aging is one of the main contributors to joint damage associated with OA. The OA-related proteins that have been reported to date have been identified by the comparative analysis of OA patients with normal controls, following surgical or pharmacological treatment. For the first time, the present study analyzed OA-related proteins in patients with OA according to the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scale. Changes in protein expression can be observed during the OA process. The present study demonstrated differential protein expression patterns in articular cartilage from ICRS1- and ICRS3-graded OA patients. ICRS grade-matched OA knee samples from 12 OA patients, 6 ICRS grade 1 patients and 6 ICRS3 patients were subjected to proteomic analysis using the LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry system. A total of 231 unique proteins were identified as expressed across the ICRS1 and ICRS3 OA patient groups. Relative differences in protein expression associated with the following classifications were observed: Biological adhesion, cell killing, cellular process, development process and molecular function. Although some of these proteins have been previously reported to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis, including cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, collagen types, angiogenin, complement C5 and CD59 glycoprotein, numerous additional proteins were newly identified, which may further help our understanding of disease pathogenesis. These findings suggested that these proteins may be used to develop novel therapeutic targets for OA.