Val109Asp Polymorphism of the Omentin-1 Gene and Incidence of Knee Osteoarthritis in a Chinese Han Population: A Correlation Analysis

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the correlation of the Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene with the risk and severity of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in a Chinese Han population.

Methods

This study enrolled 383 patients with primary KOA and 460 healthy controls. The genotypes were determined by the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism. To explore the interaction between omentin-1 gene polymorphism and obesity and age, the body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² and the age of 55 years old were preset as the cut-off value of stratified analysis. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of omentin-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 in peripheral blood and synovial fluid and the contents of IL-1β, IL-6, metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and collagen (COL)-II in the supernatant of knee joint cartilage tissue.

Results

The Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene showed no obvious correlation with KOA. Compared with Asp/Asp genotype carriers with BMI <25 kg/m² and age <55 years old, Val109 allele carriers with BMI≥25 kg/m² and age ≥55 years old had obviously increased risk of KOA (adjusted OR = 1.416, p = 0.042; adjusted OR = 1.735, p = 0.038, respectively). In the KOA group, only the omentin-1 levels were significantly lower in the plasma and synovial fluid of Ala/Ala genotype carriers than in those of Asp/Asp genotype carriers. Meanwhile, the proportion of patients with moderate–severe K-L Classification, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 in synovial fluid and the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-13 in cartilage tissue significantly increased (p < 0.05). By contrast, the expression level of COL-II in cartilage tissue significantly decreased (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene may not be the primary pathogenic factor of KOA in Chinese. The Val/Val genotype can be regarded as a potential biomarker for the risk of KOA progression.

Keywords:

• omentin-1
• single nucleotide polymorphism
• knee osteoarthritis
• biomarker
• Chinese
• obesity

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the all patients for participating in the study. We thank the participants of this study including the doctors, nurses, and researchers from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Sports Injury and Arthroscopic Surgery, Department of Endocrinology and Health Management Center in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.

Abbreviations

OA, Osteoarthritis; KOA, Knee osteoarthritis; BMI, Body mass index; WHR, Waist hip ratio; NASIDs, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; ELISA, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IL, Interleukin; MMP, Metalloproteinase; COL, Collagen; K–L, Kellgren–Lawrence; FPG, Fasting plasma glucose; TCH, Total cholesterol; TG, Triglyceride; CRP, C-reactive protein; EDTA, Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid; PCR, Polymerase chain reaction; SNP, Single nucleotide polymorphism; SD, Standard deviation; IQR, Interquartile range.

Data Sharing Statement

The data sets generated during the study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics Approval

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants have been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and performed in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all the respondents.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Key Research and Development Projects of Anhui Province (Grant No. 1804h08020228) and the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province in China (2108085MH269). The funding body had no role in the design of the study, or the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, or in writing the manuscript.