ABSTRACT
Recent studies have identified AKNA as a potential susceptibility gene for several inflammatory diseases. Here, we aimed to assess the potential association of AKNA polymorphisms with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) susceptibility in a Mexican population, following STREGA recommendations. From a DNA bank of 181 KOA patients and 140 healthy controls, two AKNA SNPs were genotyped using TaqMan probes. The association between KOA susceptibility and AKNA polymorphisms genotypes was evaluated by multivariated logistic regression analysis. Information regarding patients' inflammatory biomarkers levels was obtained and their association with AKNA polymorphisms genotypes was assessed by lineal regression. We found a positive association with the recessive inheritance model of both AKNA polymorphisms (A/A genotype for both) and KOA susceptibility adjusting by age, body mass index (BMI), gender and place of birth (OR = 2.48, 95% CI 1.09-5.65 for rs10817595 polymorphism; and OR = 4.96; 95% CI 2.421-10.2 for rs3748176 polymorphism). Additionally these associations were also seen after stratifying patients by KOA severity and age. Furthermore the total leukocyte count was positively associated with rs10817595 AKNA polymorphism (ß = 1.39; 95% CI 0.44-2.34) adjusting by age, BMI, gender, place of birth and disease severity. We suggest that regulatory and coding polymorphisms of the inflammatory modulator gene AKNA can influence the development of KOA. Further structural and functional studies might reveal the role of AKNA in OA and other rheumatic diseases.
Subject(s)
DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Nuclear Proteins/genetics , Osteoarthritis, Knee/genetics , Transcription Factors/genetics , Adult , Biomarkers/metabolism , Body Mass Index , Case-Control Studies , DNA-Binding Proteins/immunology , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Female , Gene Frequency , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nuclear Proteins/immunology , Nuclear Proteins/metabolism , Osteoarthritis, Knee/immunology , Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Transcription Factors/immunology , Transcription Factors/metabolismABSTRACT
Ultrasound (US) is increasing its potential in the assessment of several rheumatic disorders. Recently, different applications of this imaging technique have emerged. Interesting data supporting its utility and validity in the assessment of the lung to detect and quantify interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in rheumatic diseases, even in subclinical phases, have been reported. The main purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the role of US in the assessment of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in rheumatic disorders and to discuss the current evidence supporting its clinical relevance in daily clinical practice.
