Pro-Inflammatory Biomarkers Combined with Body Composition Display a Strong Association with Knee Osteoarthritis in a Community-Based Study

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common progressive, age-dependent chronic degenerative joint diseases. KOA often develops as a result of a gradual articular cartilage loss caused by its wear and tear. Numerous studies suggest that the degradation of the knee joint involves inflammatory components. This process is also associated with body composition, particularly being overweight and muscle mass loss. The present study aimed to search for novel circulating KOA inflammatory biomarkers, taking into account body composition characteristics. To this aim, we recruited 98 patients diagnosed and radiologically confirmed with KOA and 519 healthy controls from the Arab community in Israel. A panel of soluble molecules, related to inflammatory, metabolic, and musculoskeletal disorders, was measured by ELISA in plasma samples, while several body composition parameters were assessed with bioimpedance analysis. Statistical analysis, including multivariable logistic regression, revealed a number of the factors significantly associated with KOA, independently of age and sex. The most significant independent associations [OR (95% CI)] were fat body mass/body weight index—1.56 (1.20–2.02), systemic immune-inflammation index—4.03 (2.23–7.27), circulating vaspin levels—1.39 (1.15–1.68), follistatin/FSTL1 ratio—1.32 (1.02–1.70), and activin A/FSTL1 ratio—1.33 (1.01–1.75). Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm the relevance of these KOA-associated biological factors. Hereafter, they could serve as reliable biomarkers for KOA in the general human population.

The diagnostic role of the systemic inflammation index in patients with immunological diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…We identified 16 studies reporting 21 group comparisons which investigated a total of 2893 patients with IDs (mean age 48 years, 42% females) and 2346 healthy controls (mean age 50 years, 44% females) [ 42 – 57 ] (Table 1 ). Six studies were conducted in China [ 44 – 46 , 49 , 52 , 57 ], six in Turkey [ 42 , 43 , 48 , 53 – 55 ], two in South Korea [ 47 , 51 ], one in Egypt [ 50 ], and one in Israel [ 56 ]. Four group comparisons included patients with RA [ 43 , 47 , 50 , 51 ], four with AS [ 44 , 49 , 50 , 56 ], three with UC [ 45 , 46 , 57 ], two with gout [ 52 ], two with SLE [ 50 , 54 ], one with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) [ 48 ], one with OA [ 56 ], one with uveitis [ 42 ], one with sarcoidosis [ 53 ], one with granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA) [ 53 ], and one with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) [ 53 ].…”

“…Six studies were conducted in China [ 44 – 46 , 49 , 52 , 57 ], six in Turkey [ 42 , 43 , 48 , 53 – 55 ], two in South Korea [ 47 , 51 ], one in Egypt [ 50 ], and one in Israel [ 56 ]. Four group comparisons included patients with RA [ 43 , 47 , 50 , 51 ], four with AS [ 44 , 49 , 50 , 56 ], three with UC [ 45 , 46 , 57 ], two with gout [ 52 ], two with SLE [ 50 , 54 ], one with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) [ 48 ], one with OA [ 56 ], one with uveitis [ 42 ], one with sarcoidosis [ 53 ], one with granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA) [ 53 ], and one with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) [ 53 ]. The study design was retrospective in 11 studies [ 42 – 48 , 51 , 52 , 54 , 57 ], and prospective in the remaining five [ 49 , 50 , 53 – 56 ].…”

“…Four group comparisons included patients with RA [ 43 , 47 , 50 , 51 ], four with AS [ 44 , 49 , 50 , 56 ], three with UC [ 45 , 46 , 57 ], two with gout [ 52 ], two with SLE [ 50 , 54 ], one with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) [ 48 ], one with OA [ 56 ], one with uveitis [ 42 ], one with sarcoidosis [ 53 ], one with granulomatous polyangiitis (GPA) [ 53 ], and one with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) [ 53 ]. The study design was retrospective in 11 studies [ 42 – 48 , 51 , 52 , 54 , 57 ], and prospective in the remaining five [ 49 , 50 , 53 – 56 ]. The risk of bias was assessed as low in 13 studies [ 42 , 44 – 47 , 49 – 56 ], and moderate in the remaining three [ 43 , 48 , 57 ] (Table 2 ).…”

“…The study design was retrospective in 11 studies [ 42 – 48 , 51 , 52 , 54 , 57 ], and prospective in the remaining five [ 49 , 50 , 53 – 56 ]. The risk of bias was assessed as low in 13 studies [ 42 , 44 – 47 , 49 – 56 ], and moderate in the remaining three [ 43 , 48 , 57 ] (Table 2 ).…”

Systemic inflammatory biomarkers are novel predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in individuals with osteoarthritis: a prospective cohort study using data from the NHANES

“…Research on the utility of the SII and SIRI in OA has been limited, with very few studies examining their potential roles as biomarkers in this population. One study revealed that the incidence of knee OA (KOA) was 4.03-fold greater among individuals with an elevated SII than among those with a lower SII [ 37 ]. Another study reported that the SIRI (OR = 1.812) was an independent risk factor for OA disease activity [ 38 ].…”