The current study aims to verify the abnormal expression of miR-29b-3p in peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells and synovial fluid of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and to explore whether this abnormality is related to the severity of OA.
The level of miR-29b-3p was detected by real-time quantitative PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and joint fluid. Kellgren-Lawrence X-ray grading was performed in patients with OA, and the correlation between miR-29b-3p and age, weight and Kellgren-Lawrence X-ray grading was analyzed.
The expression of miR-29b-3p in PBMCs of patients with OA was higher than that of the healthy control group ((4.48 ± 2.44) vs. (7.40 ± 4.10), p < 0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. In the synovial fluid of OA patients, the expression of miR-29b-3p was higher than that of the non-OA group ((4.90 ± 2.33) vs. (77.55 ± 2.79), p < 0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. Meanwhile, the relative expression of miR-29b-3p in PBMCs of patients with OA was positively correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), Kellgren-Lawrence X-ray classification (r = 0.896, p < 0.001; r = 0.880, p < 0.001; r = 0.357, p = 0.005).
The high expression of miR-29b-3p in PBMCs and synovial fluid of patients with OA was positively correlated with age, body mass index and Kellgren-Lawrence X-ray classification. Therefore, miR-29b-3p may be involved in the pathogenesis of OA, and miR-29b-3p may be used as a potential biomarker for OA.