Investigation of the role of sclerostin in osteoarthritic articular cartilage under the mechanical loading

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09305
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: KUMAGAI Ken 横浜市立大学, 医学部, 准教授 (10468176)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 変形性関節症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the relationship between the effect of the mechanical environment on the pathology of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the joint and the expression of sclerostin. When the mechanical environment in the knee joint was improved by high tibial osteotomy, the expression of markers related to OA decreased and the expression of sclerostin, an antagonist of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, increased. This suggests that sclerostin is involved in improving the pathology of OA by reducing mechanical load on articular cartilage. However, the direct effect of mechanical load on articular cartilage on Wnt/β-catenin signaling is unknown, and further investigation is required.

Free Research Field

整形外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、スクレロスチンは膝OAの関節内における力学的負荷に応答して発現し、OAの病態に重要な役割を果たしている可能性が示された。このメカニズムは関節軟骨に対する力学的負荷が炎症性サイトカイン放出や軟骨異化作用を惹起することに関連すると考えられ、今後の研究や臨床応用につながると考えられる。今後は、関節軟骨への力学的負荷とスクレロスチン発現との関係についてさらに調査を進め、OAの進行予防と治療戦略の開発につなげていくことが課題となる。