DNA methylation in the OPG/RANK/RANKL pathway is associated with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Jianzhong Wang¹  Xiaolong Yang¹  Menghu Sun²  Feimeng An³  Huiqiang Wu³  Yuju Cao⁴ 

[1] Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, 010030, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China;Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, 010030, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China;Inner Mongolia Medical University, 010050, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China;Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 010110, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China;Zhengzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Traumatology Hospital, 450016, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China;

关键词: OPG;    RANK;    RANKL;    Methylation;    Steroid-induced ONFH;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12891-021-04472-6

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundDysregulation of the OPG/RANK/RANKL signalling pathway is a key step in the occurrence of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). This study aims to understand the degree of methylation of the OPG, RANK, and RANKL genes in steroid-related ONFH.MethodsA case-control study was designed, including 50 patients (25 males and 25 females) and 50 matched controls. The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite (EMBOSS) was used to predict the existence and location of CpG islands in the OPG, RANK, and RANKL genes. The Agena MassARRAY platform was used to detect the methylation status of the above genes in the blood of subjects. The relationship between the methylation level of CpG sites in each gene and steroid-related ONFH was analysed by the chi-square test, logistic regression analysis, and other statistical methods.ResultsIn the CpG islands of the OPG, RANK, and RANKL genes in patients with steroid-related ONFH, several CpG sites with high methylation rates and high methylation levels were found. Some hypermethylated CpG sites increase the risk of steroid-related ONFH. In addition, a few hypermethylated CpG sites have predictive value for the early diagnosis of steroid-related ONFH.ConclusionMethylation of certain sites in the OPG/RANK/RANKL signalling pathway increases the risk of steroid-related ONFH. Some hypermethylated CpG sites may be used as early prediction and diagnostic targets for steroid-related ONFH.

【 授权许可】

CC BY