Elevated osteopontin level of synovial fluid and articular cartilage is associated with disease severity in knee osteoarthritis patients

Gao, S.G.; Li, K.H.; Zeng, K.B.; Tu, M.; Xu, M.; Lei, G.H.

doi:10.1016/j.joca.2009.07.009

« Previous Next »Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
Volume 18, Issue 1 , Pages 82-87, January 2010

Elevated osteopontin level of synovial fluid and articular cartilage is associated with disease severity in knee osteoarthritis patients

S.G. Gao
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, # 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- These authors contributed equally to this paper.
K.H. Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, # 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- These authors contributed equally to this paper.
K.B. Zeng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, # 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Spinal Surgery, Central Hospital of Xiangtan, # 120 Heping Road, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, China
M. Tu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, # 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second People Hospital of Jingmen, # 39 Xiangshan Road, Jingmen, Hubei 448000, China
M. Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, # 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
G.H. Lei
- Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, # 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Guang-Hua Lei, Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China. Tel: 86-731-84327389, 86-13808429640; Fax: 86-731-84327354.

Received 24 February 2009; accepted 31 July 2009. published online 22 September 2009.

Summary

Objective

To investigate osteopontin (OPN) levels in both synovial fluid and articular cartilage of patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) and their relationship with severity of the disease.

Method

Fifty patients aged 48–81 years with knee OA and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Anteroposterior knee radiographs or/and Mankin score were taken to determine the disease severity of the affected knee. The radiographic grading of OA in the knee was performed by using the Kellgren-Lawrence criteria. OPN levels in synovial fluid were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. OPN levels in articular cartilage were assessed by immunohistochemical methods.

Results

Compared to healthy controls, OA patients had higher OPN concentration in synovial fluid (4519.60±1830.37, 95%CI 3999.42–5039.79 vs 1179.70±303.39, 95%CI 1035.53–1438.74pg/ml, P<0.001)and articular cartilage(0.6±0.06, 95%CI 0.59–0.62 vs 0.43±0.07, 95%CI 0.38–0.48, P<0.01). In addition, synovial fluid OPN levels showed a positive correlation with articular cartilage OPN levels (r=0.411, 95%CI 0.150–0.619, P=0.003). Subsequent analysis showed that synovial fluid OPN levels significantly correlated with severity of disease (Spearman's ρ=0.581, 95%CI 0.335–0.726, P<0.001). Furthermore, the articular cartilage levels of OPN also correlated with disease severity (Spearman's ρ=0.675, 95%CI 0.500–0.808, P<0.001).

Conclusions

OPN in synovial fluid and articular cartilage is associated with progressive joint damage and is likely to be a useful biomarker for determining disease severity and progression in knee OA.

Key words: Osteopontin, Osteoarthritis, Synovial fluid, Articular cartilage