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Updated: Jan 13, 2026
Author Spotlight: Treating Frozen Shoulder with Small Needle Knife Therapy
Published on: November 17, 2023
Drug Repurposing for Frozen Shoulder; a Bioinformatics Meta-Analysis
Yashar Shahbaz1, Taimoor Ali2, Atieh Nouralishahi3
1Orthopedic Research Center, Shahid Kamyab Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Objectives:
Adhesive capsulitis (AC), commonly known as frozen shoulder (FS), is characterized by glenohumeral joint capsule contraction, resulting in pain, stiffness, and dysfunction. Genetic factors have been implicated in the etiology of AC, prompting a bioinformatics investigation to explore potential therapeutic targets.
Methods:
A systematic review of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets was conducted using keywords related to Frozen Shoulder and Adhesive Capsulitis. The gene expression profiles from GSE238052, GSE190023, and GSE140731 were analyzed using the i-DEP package. Differential gene expression analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichments, and drug-gene enrichments were performed through biclustering of GO pathways with the Drug.GeneSet database and dpGSEA Python application.
Results:
Among 58,825 genes in 67 samples, 1,036 upregulated and 378 downregulated genes were identified in the case-control comparison. Upregulated pathways included skeletal muscle adaptation, fiber transition, myofibril assembly, and regulation of muscle fiber development. Drug.GeneSet database analysis highlighted adenosine and its derivatives as potential therapeutic targets. Further dpGSEA analysis revealed a significant influence of adenosine on the disease.
Conclusion:
This study provides information about the genomic landscape of adhesive capsulitis, identifying potential therapeutic avenues centered around adenosine-related interventions. While topical or intra-articular injection of adenosine is evident in the literature, this finding should be validated through experimental studies.
