Sex-specific effects of calving season on joint health and biomarkers in Montana ranchers

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Research

Stephen A. Martin¹  Matthew A. Thompson²  Ronald K. June³  Brady D. Hislop³  Erik S. Adams⁴  Tara M. Andrews⁵  Kaleena Miller⁵  Roubie Younkin⁵ 

[1] Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity, Translational Biomarkers Core Laboratory, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA;Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA;Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Montana State University, PO Box 173800, 59717-3800, Bozeman, MT, USA;Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Montana State University, PO Box 173800, 59717-3800, Bozeman, MT, USA;School of Medicine, Montana WWAMI, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA;MSU Extension Office, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA;

关键词: Biomarkers;    Osteoarthritis;    Sex differences;    Inflammation;    Joint pain;    Ranching;    Calving season;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12891-022-05979-2

 received in 2022-06-15, accepted in 2022-11-11,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAgricultural workers have a higher incidence of osteoarthritis (OA), but the etiology behind this phenomenon is unclear. Calving season, which occurs in mid- to late-winter for ranchers, includes physical conditions that may elevate OA risk. Our primary aim was to determine whether OA biomarkers are elevated at the peak of calving season compared to pre-season, and to compare these data with joint health survey information from the subjects. Our secondary aim was to detect biomarker differences between male and female ranchers.MethodsDuring collection periods before and during calving season, male (n = 28) and female (n = 10) ranchers completed joint health surveys and provided samples of blood, urine, and saliva for biomarker analysis. Statistical analyses examined associations between mean biomarker levels and survey predictors. Ensemble cluster analysis identified groups having unique biomarker profiles.ResultsThe number of calvings performed by each rancher positively correlated with plasma IL-6, serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and urinary CTX-I. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), a marker of oxidative stress, was significantly higher during calving season than pre-season and was also correlated with ranchers having more months per year of joint pain. We found evidence of sexual dimorphism in the biomarkers among the ranchers, with leptin being elevated and matrix metalloproteinase-3 diminished in female ranchers. The opposite was detected in males. WOMAC score was positively associated with multiple biomarkers: IL-6, IL-2, HA, leptin, C2C, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and CTX-I. These biomarkers represent enzymatic degradation, inflammation, products of joint destruction, and OA severity.ConclusionsThe positive association between number of calvings performed by each rancher (workload) and both inflammatory and joint tissue catabolism biomarkers establishes that calving season is a risk factor for OA in Montana ranchers. Consistent with the literature, we found important sex differences in OA biomarkers, with female ranchers showing elevated leptin, whereas males showed elevated MMP-3.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022

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