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Updated: May 23, 2025
Author Spotlight: Fu's Subcutaneous Needling for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain
Published on: March 24, 2023
FGA can be used as a promising therapeutic target in osteoarthritis
Guanhong Chen1, Han Zhang2, Xizhuang Bai3,4,5
1Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116041, China.
Background:
This study aims to identify critical signaling pathways and pathogenic genes involved in osteoarthritis (OA) to provide a foundation for identifying targeted therapeutic strategies.
Methods:
Twenty-six patients who underwent knee joint surgery in the Department of Orthopedics between January and December 2023 were enrolled. Cartilage samples in the experimental group (OA group) were harvested from the articular surfaces of the knee joints of OA patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In contrast, control samples were obtained from non-load-bearing regions of irreparable cartilage fragments excised during surgical management of tibial plateau fractures. Proteomic profiling was conducted using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Subsequent bioinformatics analysis was performed using R version 4.3.3 to identify differentially expressed proteins and key pathogenic genes. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blots were employed to validate the expression levels of candidate genes.
Results:
The proteomic analysis revealed that regulatory signaling pathway of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP) for IGF transport and uptake and the platelet degranulation signaling pathway were significantly implicated in OA pathogenesis. Among the differentially expressed proteins, fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) was identified as a central gene associated with OA. The qPCR and western blots validation confirmed significantly elevated expression of FGA in OA articular chondrocytes samples compared to controls.
Conclusions:
FGA plays a pivotal role in the molecular pathology of OA and may represent a promising therapeutic target for the development of precision treatments for OA.
Insights
Fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) is a key gene in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis, identified through proteomic analysis. Elevated FGA levels in OA cartilage suggest it as a potential therapeutic target for precision OA treatments.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis involves complex signaling pathways and pathogenic genes.
- Identifying these molecular drivers is crucial for developing targeted OA therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify critical signaling pathways and pathogenic genes in osteoarthritis.
- To provide a foundation for targeted therapeutic strategies in OA.
Main Methods:
- Proteomic profiling using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry.
- Bioinformatics analysis to identify differentially expressed proteins and genes.
- Validation of candidate genes using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blots.
Main Results:
- Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP) and platelet degranulation pathways implicated in OA.
- Fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) identified as a central OA-associated gene.
- Significantly elevated FGA expression confirmed in OA articular chondrocytes.
Conclusions:
- Fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) plays a pivotal role in OA molecular pathology.
- FGA represents a promising therapeutic target for precision OA treatments.
