Osteoarthritis biomarkers: year in review

Abstract

Discovery, characterisation and qualification of various biomarkers is ongoing; several novel protein and non-protein candidate biomarkers have been reported this year. Biomarkers provide us with an opportunity to better diagnose and stratify the disease, via established panels or new discovery approaches. Improving quality of sampling and testing, and measuring large numbers of markers simultaneously in large cohorts would seem likely to identify new clinically applicable biomarkers, which are still much needed in this disease.

Ezh2 Ameliorates Osteoarthritis by Activating TNFSF13B

“…Such absent awareness may cause failure in phase II and III clinical trials, with patients' ununified responses to iNOSs, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, and strontium . Therefore, detecting and classifying OA subtypes and patient subpopulations is needed to develop accurate and effective approaches in disease diagnosis, stage monitoring, precise treatment, and prognosis . Our group has identified an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) high OA subpopulation that could be targeted with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved EGFR inhibitor, gefitinib, with promising results .…”

Targeted proteomics of hip articular cartilage in OA and fracture patients

“…As a result, current therapeutic managements are focused on relieving patient symptoms by strengthening supporting structures, analgesics, and anti‐inflammatory treatments and ultimately surgical procedures, that is, total joint replacements. Accordingly, a major objective in OA research has become the discovery of specific biomarkers of cartilage degeneration, as a major characteristic of disease, to facilitate early diagnostics, and new mechanism‐related molecular treatments …”

“…Together, the biomarker studies have gradually increased our understanding of pathophysiology and underlying mechanisms of disease. Encouraged by these findings, recent studies have focused on the identification of new markers, more specifically addressing early diagnosis, and the development of new targets for disease modifying drugs . Furthermore, biomarkers may also be a means to predict disease progression and optimize individual treatments …”

“…Accordingly, a major objective in OA research has become the discovery of specific biomarkers of cartilage degeneration, as a major characteristic of disease, to facilitate early diagnostics, and new mechanism-related molecular treatments. 5 An increasing number of studies have examined normal and OA articular cartilage, in humans and animals, to shed light on biology and composition of cartilage and the pathological processes leading to OA. [6][7][8][9] They suggest that the degradation and release of molecules from cartilage to body fluids varies according to status and severity of the pathological process.…”

“…Encouraged by these findings, recent studies have focused on the identification of new markers, more specifically addressing early diagnosis, and the development of new targets for disease modifying drugs. 5,[11][12][13] Furthermore, biomarkers may also be a means to predict disease progression and optimize individual treatments. 14,15 Abbreviations: ASPN, asporin; AUGN, augurin; Col, collagen; pN Col III, N-propeptide collagen type III; CILP1, cartilage intermediate layer protein 1; CILP2, cartilage intermediate layer protein 2; CHAD, chondroadherin; COMP, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein; CHADL, chondroadherin link protein; CSPG2, versican core protein; COBA2, collagen alpha-2 (XI) chain; DERM, dermatopontin; ECM, extracellular martix; FMOD, fibromodulin; Fx, fracture; FINC, fibronectin; GAGs, glycosaminoglycans; HPLN, hyaluronan and PG link protein; HTRA1, serine protease HTRA1; LC, liquid chromatography; LUM, lumican; MS, mass spectrometry; MRM, multiple reaction monitoring; MATN1, matrilin-1; MATN3, matrilin-3; MIME, mimecan; MGP, matrix Gla protein; OA, osteoarthritis; OMD, osteomodulin; OSTP, osteopontin; PGs, proteoglycans; PGCA, aggrecan core protein; PGS1, biglycan; PGS2, decorin; PRG4, lubricin; PRELP, prolargin; PGBM, basement membrane specific heparin sulfate PG core protein; TSP1, thrombospondin-1; TSP4, thrombospondin-4; SLRPs, small leucine rich repeat proteoglycans; TENA, tenascin-C; TENX, tenascin-X; TGF-b, Transforming growth factor-beta Patrik The aim of this study was to explore candidate proteins in early events of osteoarthritic cartilage which may predict development of OA.…”