The Role of Sclerostin in Knee Osteoarthritis and its Relation to Disease Progression

Abstract

steoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease and a major healthcare burden in today’s aging population, which is characterized by progressive degeneration of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, and subsequent joint space narrowing. All structures within the joint may be affected during progression of the disease, but the underlying causes are not well understood. Sclerostin, a protein product of the SOST gene, secreted mainly by osteocytes decreases bone formation by inhibiting the terminal differentiation of osteoblasts and blocks Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via its interaction with the Low density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Proteins-5/6 (LRP5/6) receptor. Interestingly, its antagonist role on BMP signaling is also linked with its interaction with the LRP5/6 receptor. The present study was designed to assess serum sclerostin level in knee osteoarthritis and its relation to disease severity. This study was a cross sectional study that was conducted on fifty patients with primary knee OA who satisfied the 2016 revised criteria of ACR (American College of Rheumatology) for diagnosis of knee OA and thirty healthy volunteers as control group age and sex matched with studied OA patients.