Elevated circulating levels of IL-34 are strongly associated with osteoporosis.

In this cross-sectional study, we observed a strong, age-independent association of circulating interleukin-34 (IL-34) levels with osteoporosis. PURPOSE: The reported capacity of IL-34 to induce and enhance osteoclastogenesis suggests its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Our study aimed to evaluate whether there is an association between IL-34 expression and osteoporosis. METHODS: We enrolled 30 women with osteoporosis and 230 age-matched non-osteoporotic women as a control group. Osteoporosis diagnosis was based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Body composition parameters were assessed by the bioimpedance method. Plasma IL-34 levels were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, the mean plasma IL-34 levels were significantly higher in osteoporotic women (164.61 ± 36.40 pg/ml vs. 665.43 ± 253.67 pg/ml, p = 0.0002), whereas basal metabolic rate (BMR) was significantly lower (1422.03 ± 6.80 kcal vs. 1339.39 ± 17.52 kcal, p = 0.00007). Both variables remained statistically significant after adjustment for age (p < 0.001). We did not observe correlations between plasma IL-34 levels and body composition parameters in osteoporotic and control groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis with osteoporosis status as a dependent variable clearly showed that age, BMR and IL-34 levels were independently and significantly associated with osteoporosis. The calculated odds ratios (OR) were 1.66 (95% CI = 1.16-2.38) for IL-34 levels and 0.22 (95% CI = 0.07-0.65) for BMR. CONCLUSION: The significant (fourfold) elevation of IL-34 plasma levels in osteoporosis patients suggests that circulating IL-34 could be used as a biomarker for osteoporosis.

Pro-Inflammatory Biomarkers Combined with Body Composition Display a Strong Association with Knee Osteoarthritis in a Community-Based Study.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common progressive, age-dependent chronic degenerative joint diseases. KOA often develops as a result of a gradual articular cartilage loss caused by its wear and tear. Numerous studies suggest that the degradation of the knee joint involves inflammatory components. This process is also associated with body composition, particularly being overweight and muscle mass loss. The present study aimed to search for novel circulating KOA inflammatory biomarkers, taking into account body composition characteristics. To this aim, we recruited 98 patients diagnosed and radiologically confirmed with KOA and 519 healthy controls from the Arab community in Israel. A panel of soluble molecules, related to inflammatory, metabolic, and musculoskeletal disorders, was measured by ELISA in plasma samples, while several body composition parameters were assessed with bioimpedance analysis. Statistical analysis, including multivariable logistic regression, revealed a number of the factors significantly associated with KOA, independently of age and sex. The most significant independent associations [OR (95% CI)] were fat body mass/body weight index-1.56 (1.20-2.02), systemic immune-inflammation index-4.03 (2.23-7.27), circulating vaspin levels-1.39 (1.15-1.68), follistatin/FSTL1 ratio-1.32 (1.02-1.70), and activin A/FSTL1 ratio-1.33 (1.01-1.75). Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm the relevance of these KOA-associated biological factors. Hereafter, they could serve as reliable biomarkers for KOA in the general human population.

Scoliosis and skeletal muscle mass are strongly associated with low back pain-related disability in humans: An evolutionary anthropology point of view.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the potential risk factors and etiology of low back pain (LBP)-related disability, including structural changes of the spine (spinal scoliosis) and body composition components in a population with a high prevalence of LBP. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, two self-reported validated questionnaires were used to collect back pain and disability data in an ethnically homogeneous family-based population sample (N = 1078). The scoliosis angle of trunk rotation was measured by a scoliometer on three spinal levels while the patient was bent forward. Body composition parameters, including relative to weight (WT), fat, relative skeletal muscle mass (SMM/WT), and total body water were determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted, accounting for the familial composition of the sample. RESULTS: The mixed multiple regression analyses with several LBP-related phenotypes as dependent variables consistently showed significant independent associations with scoliosis and SMM/WT, irrespective of other covariates. The odds ratios (OR)/95% CI for scoliosis ranged between 1.40 (1.19-1.64) and 1.51 (1.27-1.80), and from 0.61(0.51-0.72), to 0.71(0.58-0.87) for SMM/WT, depending on the LBP phenotype. The genetic components of the respective correlations between the LBP-phenotypes and scoliosis or SMM/WT were negligible. CONCLUSIONS: The associations between LBP-related conditions and postured scoliosis and SMM/WT were consistent and significant and therefore may serve as markers in predicting the development of LBP-related disability. We interpret the origin of these correlations as the evolutionary event due to the imperfect spine anatomy adaptation to a vertical posture resulting from a quick transition to bipedalism from a quadrupedal ancestor.

The search for systemic biomarkers for monitoring degenerative lumbar spinal disorders.

Objectives: In our previous study, we reported that low back pain (LBP) severity and disability significantly correlate with body composition and several blood biochemical factors. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that these covariates are associated with anatomical deformations of the lumbar spine, in particular, radiographic facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA) and lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) features important contributors to LBP. Methods: CT and MRI images of the lumbar spine were obtained from 200 individuals suffering from LBP-sciatica. We examined the FJOA and total LDD score - the sum of the scores of the three radiographic features (intervertebral disc herniation, osteophythosis and spondylolisthesis) at the L1 - S1 vertebral levels. By implementing a bioelectrical impedance analysis, we assessed the participants for body composition, specifically, extracellular water (ECW). Plasma levels of growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin), were detected by ELISA. Results: By conducting a series of multivariable regression analyses, we report that the circulating levels of GDF-15, vaspin, and ECW are significantly and independently associated with FJOA scores [ßGDF15 â€‹= â€‹0.38 â€‹± â€‹0.08, p â€‹= â€‹0.0001; ßVASPIN â€‹= â€‹0.36 â€‹± â€‹0.07, p â€‹= â€‹0.000004; ßECW â€‹= â€‹0.24 â€‹± â€‹0.07, p â€‹= â€‹0.002]. The levels of GDF-15 (ߠ​= â€‹0.30 â€‹± â€‹0.10, p â€‹= â€‹0.007) and ECW (ߠ​= â€‹0.20 â€‹± â€‹0.09, p â€‹= â€‹0.03) were also found significantly associated with the LDD scores. Conclusion: The obtained new data suggest that GDF-15, vaspin and ECW may serve as biomarkers for FJOA and LDD phenotypes.