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. 2021 Jul 16:14:3291-3297.
doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S319537. eCollection 2021.

Possible Regulation of bFGF Expression by Mast Cells in Osteoarthritis Patients with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ken Takata  1 , Kentaro Uchida  1 , Shotaro Takano  1 , Manabu Mukai  1 , Gen Inoue  1 , Hiroyuki Sekiguchi  1 , Jun Aikawa  1 , Masayuki Miyagi  1 , Dai Iwase  1 , Masashi Takaso  1
Affiliations

Possible Regulation of bFGF Expression by Mast Cells in Osteoarthritis Patients with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ken Takata et al. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. .

Abstract

Purpose: Obesity is associated with the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Furthermore, synovial basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is linked to the severity of KOA. We previously demonstrated that bFGF and mast cell (MC) marker expression were elevated in the synovial tissues (ST) of KOA patients with obesity. However, it remains unclear whether MCs contribute to bFGF expression and regulation.

Patients and methods: Radiographically diagnosed KOA patients (n=249) were assigned to groups based on the body mass index (BMI) classifications used by the World Health Organization: normal-weight (NW, BMI <25 kg/m2, n=95), overweight (OW, BMI ≥25 and <30, n=109) and obese (OB, ≥30 kg/m2, n=45). BFGF expression in the ST was examined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and compared across the BMI groups. Additionally, BFGF and interleukin (IL) 13 expression were examined in freshly extracted MC-rich (THY-1-, CD3-, CD14-, and CD19-) and MC-poor (THY-1+, CD3+, CD14+, or CD19+) fractions from ST. Moreover, regulation of BFGF expression by IL-13 was studied in CD14-negative (fibroblast-rich) and CD14-positive (Mφ-rich) and cells in culture.

Results: BFGF expression was significantly higher in OB than in NW patients. Furthermore, although IL13 was significantly higher in the MC-rich than the MC-poor fraction, BFGF expression was comparable. Recombinant human IL-13 stimulated expression of BFGF in synovial fibroblast cells.

Conclusion: BFGF expression is higher in the ST of KOA patients with obesity. Increased numbers of MCs may contribute to the elevated BFGF expression through IL-13 in KOA patients with obesity.

Keywords: BFGF; IL13; mast cell; obesity; osteoarthritis; synovial tissues.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest regarding this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CD117 (A), CD203c (B), TPSB2 (C), and BFGF (D) mRNA expression in the synovium of normal, overweight, and obese patients with knee osteoarthritis. *P<0.05. P values are indicated.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation between expression of BFGF and MC markers. Correlation between expression of BFGF and CD117 (A), CD203c (B), and TPSB2 (C).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Expression of MC markers, BFGF and IL13 in mast cells. CD117 (A), CD203c (B), TPSB2 (C), IL13 (D), and BFGF (E) expression levels in mast cell (MC)-rich (THY-1-CD3-CD14-CD19-) and MC-poor (THY-1+, CD3+, CD14+, or CD19+) fractions. *P<0.05. P values are indicated.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effect of IL-13 on BFGF expression in synovial fibroblasts and Mφ. BFGF expression in CD14-negative (fibroblast-rich) (A) and CD14-positive (Mφ-rich) (B) fractions at 6 h after stimulation with vehicle or IL-13. *P<0.05. P values are indicated.
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