J. Cai

Association Between Infrapatellar Fat Pad Volume and Knee Structural Changes in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective. The function of the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) remains uncertain. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional associations between IPFP volume and knee structures in patients with knee OA. Methods. The study included 174 patients with clinical knee OA (mean age, 55.5 yrs). Fat-suppressed 3-D T1-weighted spoiled gradient recall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure the IPFP and cartilage volume. T2-weighted fast spin echo MRI was used to assess cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions (BML). Radiographic knee osteophytes and joint space narrowing (JSN) were assessed using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International atlas. Results. After adjustment for potential confounders, greater IPFP volume was associated with greater tibial and patellar cartilage volume (all p < 0.05), and fewer cartilage defects at all sites (OR 0.88–0.91, all p < 0.05). IPFP volume was associated with presence of BML at lateral tibial and medial femoral sites (OR 0.88–0.91, all p < 0.05) and osteophytes at lateral tibiofemoral compartment (OR 0.88, p < 0.05). IPFP volume was not significantly associated with JSN. Conclusion. Greater IPFP volume was associated with greater knee cartilage volume and fewer structural abnormalities, suggesting a protective role of IPFP size in knee OA.

Associations between serum ghrelin and knee symptoms, joint structures and cartilage or bone biomarkers in patients with knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE The roles of ghrelin in knee osteoarthritis (OA) are unclear. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional associations of ghrelin with knee symptoms, joint structures and cartilage or bone biomarkers in patients with knee OA. METHODS This study included 146 patients with symptomatic knee OA. Serum levels of ghrelin and cartilage or bone biomarkers including cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), cross linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTXI), cross linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTXI), N-terminal procollagen III propeptide (PIIINP), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, 10, 13 were measured using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Knee symptoms were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC). Infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) volume, IPFP signal intensity alternation, cartilage defects, bone marrow lesions (BMLs) and effusion-synovitis were assessed using the (MRI). Osteophytes and joint space narrowing (JSN) were assessed using the Osteoarthritis Research Society International atlas. RESULTS After adjustment for potential confounders, ghrelin quartiles were positively associated with knee symptoms including pain, stiffness, dysfunction and total score (quartile 4 vs 1: β 24.19, 95% CI 8.13-40.25). Ghrelin quartiles were also significantly associated with increased IPFP signal intensity alteration (quartile 4 vs 1: OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.55-8.25) and NTXI, PIIINP, MMP3 and MMP13. Ghrelin was not significantly associated with other joint structures and biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS Serum levels of ghrelin were significantly associated with increased knee symptoms, IPFP signal intensity alteration and serum levels of MMP3, MMP13, NTXI and PIIINP, suggesting that ghrelin may have a role to play in knee OA.

Serum levels of resistin and interleukin-17 are associated with increased cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Abstract Objectives: To investigate cross-sectional associations between serum levels of resistin and interleukin-17 (IL-17) and cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in patients with knee symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: One hundred and ninety-four consecutively-selected patients with knee symptomatic OA (mean 55.4 years, range 34–74, 87% females) were included in Anhui Osteoarthritis (AHOA) Study. Knee cartilage defects and BMLs were determined at different sites using T2-weighted fat-suppressed fast spin echo MRI. Serum resistin, IL-17, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured using ELISA. Results: In multivariable analyses, serum resistin was positively associated with cartilage defects at lateral femoral, lateral tibial, and medial tibial (all p < 0.05) sites. The significant associations were also present with BMLs at lateral femoral and tibial sites (ORs: 1.13–1.19, both p < 0.05). In patients with the highest quartile of hs-CRP (>2.45 pg/ml), IL-17 was positively and significantly associated with cartilage defect score at nearly all sites (ORs: 1.33–1.44, all p < 0.05), and BMLs at lateral and medial femoral sites (ORs: 1.26–1.51, both p < 0.05). Conclusions: Serum levels of resistin were positively and independently associated with cartilage defects and BMLs in patients with knee OA. Serum IL-17 was significantly associated with cartilage defects and BMLs in patients with an increased inflammatory status. These suggest that metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms may have a role to play in knee OA.

Associations between circulating adipokines and bone mineral density in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundAssociations between adipokines and bone mineral density (BMD) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) remain indistinct. The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional associations between serum levels of adipokines and BMD in patients with knee OA.MethodsThis study included 164 patients with symptomatic knee OA from the Anhui Osteoarthritis study. Serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). BMD at total body, spine, hip, and femur were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).ResultsIn multivariable analyses, serum levels of leptin were significantly associated with reduced BMD at total body, hip, total femur, femoral neck, and femoral shaft (β = − 0.019, 95% CI -0.034 to − 0.005; β = − 0.018, 95% CI -0.034 to − 0.003; β = − 0.018, 95% CI -0.034 to − 0.002; β = − 0.016, 95% CI -0.032 to 0.000; β = − 0.026, 95% CI -0.046 to − 0.006; respectively). Serum levels of adiponectin were significantly and negatively associated with BMD at total femur and femoral shaft (β = − 0.007, 95% CI -0.013 to 0.000; β = − 0.011, 95% CI -0.018 to − 0.003; respectively). However, no significant associations were found between serum levels of resistin and BMD at any site measured.ConclusionsSerum levels of leptin and adiponectin were significantly and negatively associated with BMD, suggesting potentially detrimental effects of leptin and adiponectin on BMD in knee OA patients.

Associations between systemic bone mineral density, knee cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions in patients with knee osteoarthritis

The relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoarthritis (OA) remains controversial. This study aimed to explore the cross‐sectional associations between BMD at the total body, hip and spine and joint structural abnormalities including cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in patients with knee OA.

THU0477 Serum Levels of Resistin and Interleukin-17 are Associated with Increased Cartilage Defects and Bone Marrow Lesions in Patients with Knee Symptomatic Osteoarthritis

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease characterized by a number of structural changes including cartilage loss and subchondral bone abnormalities. Metabolic triggered inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of OA. Serum resistin levels increase with obesity in humans and the specific functions of resistin and IL-17 are still unknown in the development of knee OA. Objectives To investigate cross-sectional associations between serum levels of resistin and interleukin-17 and cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions in patients with knee symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA). Methods 194 randomly-selected patients with knee symptomatic OA (mean 55.4 years, range 34 to 74, 87% females) were included in Anhui Osteoarthritis (AHOA) Study. Knee cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions were determined at medial and lateral tibial, femoral and patellar sites using T2-weighted fat-suppressed fast spin echo MRI. Serum resistin and IL-17 levels were measured using ELISA. Results Serum resistin was positively associated with cartilage defects at lateral femoral (OR: 1.23, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.35), lateral tibial (OR: 1.14, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.24) and medial tibial (OR: 1.13, 95%CI 1.03 to 1.23) sites after adjustment for covariates. The significant associations were also present with bone marrow lesions at lateral femoral (OR: 1.19, 95%CI 1.09 to 1.30) and tibial sites (OR: 1.13, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.24) after adjustment for covariates. All these associations remained significant after further adjustment for IL-17. In patients with highest quartiles of hs-CRP (>2.45 pg/ml), IL-17 was significantly associated with total cartilage defect score (r=0.267, p=0.001) and cartilage defects at nearly all sites (except for medial tibial) after adjustment for covariates. These significant associations decreased in magnitude and became non significant at medial femoral, lateral tibial and patellar sites after further adjustment for resistin. Similarly, IL-17 was significantly associated with BMLs at lateral and medial femoral sites after adjustment for covariates, and the association at lateral femoral site became non significant after further adjustment for resistin. Conclusions Serum levels of resistin are independently and consistently associated with cartilage defects and BMLs in patients with knee OA. In addition, the associations of serum IL-17 with cartilage defects and BMLs in patients with a higher inflammatory status are largely mediated by resistin suggesting resistin may play a key role in cartilage loss and bone abnormalities in patients with knee OA. Disclosure of Interest None declared