“Investigation of Adipolin and Subfatin in Osteoarthritis Patients”

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a slowly progressive disabling disease associated with a large societal and economic burden, in addition to the physical and psychological consequences. Obesity is a well-known risk factor for developing OA and adipokines seem to be key players in obesity-OA relationship. Among these adipokines, adipolin and subfatin/metrnl attracted researchers’ attention in recent years due to their anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects. Interestingly, these two new adipokines have also been found to be expressed by chondrocytes. Our aim was to investigate the serum as well as SF levels of adipolin and subfatin/metrnl in obese osteoarthritic patients compared to obese non-OA subjects. In addition, to investigate the association between each of these two adipokines with IR, dyslipidaemia as well as SF MMP-13 which have central roles during cartilage degeneration. In order to fulfil our aim, this study was conducted on 55 subjects divided into the following two groups: a) Group 1: consisted of 25 obese subjects without OA (Non-OA group) b) Group 2: consisted of 30 obese subjects with OA (OA group) Main outcome measures: Circulating and SF-levels of adipolin, subfatin/metrnl, and insulin, as well as SF-levels of matrix-metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) were measured by ELISA. Knee-radiographs using X-ray were done to determine OA-severity and investigate its association with adipokines’ levels.