CCL22 is a biomarker of cartilage injury and plays a functional role in chondrocyte apoptosis. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ren, G.; Whittaker, J.L.; Leonard, C.; De Rantere, D.; Pang, D.S.J.; Salo, P.; Fritzler, M.; Kapoor, M.; de Koning, A.P.J.; Jaremko, J.L.; Emery, C.A.; Krawetz, R.J.
• Is Part Of: Cytokine. Volume 115(2019)
• Page Start: 32
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Inflammation -- Chemokine -- Osteoarthritis -- Cartilage -- Apoptosis -- CCL22; Cytokines -- Periodicals; 571.844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2018.11.030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-4666

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Previous history of knee injury is a significant risk factor for OA. It has been established that low-level chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the onset and pathogenesis of OA. The primary aim of this research was to determine if a history of knee joint injury is associated with systemic inflammation. A secondary aim was to determine if systemic inflammation is related to knee pain and joint structure. Methods: Differences in serum cytokine association networks, knee joint structural changes (MRI), and self-reported pain (i.e., Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Pain subscale, KOOSPAIN and Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain score, ICOAP) between individuals who had sustained a youth (aged 15–26 years) sport-related knee injury 3–10 years previously and age- and sex-matched controls were examined. Proteins of interest were also examined in an OA rat model. Results: Cytokine association networks were found to differ significantly between study groups, yet no significant associations were found between networks and KOOSPAIN or MRI-defined OA. A group of cytokines (MCP1/CCL2, CCL22 and TNFα) were differentially associated with other cytokines between study groups. In a pre-clinical rat OA model, serum CCL22 levels were associated with pain (r = 0.255, p = 0.045) and structural changes to the cartilage. CCL22 expression was also observed in human OA cartilage and furthermore, CCL22 induced apoptosis of isolated human chondrocytes. Discussion: These results suggest that CCL22 may be an early factor in the onset/pathogenic process of cartilage degeneration and/or related to pain OA.