Clinical Significance of Inflammatory Factors Within the Synovial Fluids in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis for Predicting Meniscus Degeneration Progression

Abstract

Background: This research aims to investigate the expressions and clinical significance of inflammatory factors in the synovial fluid of the meniscus degeneration with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: A total of 100 patients with meniscus degeneration in knee OA were divided into into stage II and III groups based on MRI imaging. The expressions of inflammatory factors including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and tumor growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the knee joint fluid were determined by means of an ELISA and chemiluminescence assay. International general Lysholm score and correlation between the levels of four cytokines were further analyzed.Results: Compared with stage II group, patients in stage III group had significantly increased levels of IL-1β in the synovial fluid along with increases in TNF-α (P <0.05) and higher levels of IL-17 (P <0.05). In addition, stage II group also showed a decrease in TGF-β1 (P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-17 were negatively correlated with Lysholm score whilst TGF-β1 was positively correlated with Lysholm score (P<0.05). The values of the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the four cytokines in the diagnosis of meniscus degeneration in knee OA were 0.652, 0.604, 0.714 and 0.391 respectively. Conclusions: The high expression levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-17, and the low expression levels of TGF-β1 in knee joint fluid are related to the severity of meniscus injury in patients with knee OA. These cytokines are associated with the pathological development of knee injury and ultimately lead to the decline of knee joint function.