Sclerostin expression in the subchondral bone of patients with knee osteoarthritis

作者：Long Wu, Haohui Guo, Ke Sun, Xin Zhao, Tao Ma, Qunhua Jin · 发表于：International Journal of Molecular Medicine · 年份：2016 · DOI：10.3892/ijmm.2016.2741 · 被引用次数：48 · 研究领域：Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms、Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques、Tendon Structure and Treatment

The aim of this study was to assess the expression of β-catenin, transcription factor-4 (TCF-4) and sclerostin in the subchondral bone of patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA). Tibial plateau specimens from patients with OA who underwent total knee arthroplasty were classified into the early stage (n=15), intermediate stage (n=13) and late stage (n=17) groups using the Mankin score. Structural parameters, including total articular cartilage (TAC), subchondral bone plate (SCP) thickness and trabecular bone volume (BV/TV), were assessed using Image-Pro Plus 6.0 analysis software. Subsequently, β-catenin and sclerostin expression levels in subchondral bone were determined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the mRNA and protein levels of β-catenin, TCF-4 and sclerostin were evaluated by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis, respectively. As regards the cartilage and subchondral bone structural parameters, TAC was reduced, while SCP thickness and BV/TV were increased due to OA, with significant differences observed among the different stages (all P<0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry revealed that the β-catenin levels in the intermediate- and late-stage samples were significantly increased, while the levels of sclerostin were markedly decreased compared with the values in the early-stage samples (all P<0.05). Compared with the intermediate-stage samples, the sclerostin levels were decreased, and SCP thickness and the β-catenin levels were increased in the late-stag...