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Involvement of BDNF in knee osteoarthritis: the relationship with inflammation and clinical parameters

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in both the plasma and synovial fluid of patients with primary knee osteoarthritis compared with control individuals and to investigate the relationship between BDNF levels and self-reported pain. Twenty-seven patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and 19 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Anteroposterior knee radiographs were taken to determine the disease severity of the affected knee. Radiographic grading of OA in the knee was performed using the Kellgren–Lawrence criteria. The BDNF levels in the plasma and synovial fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean plasma BDNF levels of the knee OA patients were significantly higher than that of the healthy controls (2,378 ± 1,067.2 vs. 1,756 ± 804.3 pg/mL, p < 0.05). BDNF levels in the synovial fluid of OA patients (358.9 ± 178.4 pg/mL) were sixfold lower than in corresponding blood samples (p < 0.0001) and fourfold lower than in the plasma of healthy controls (p < 0.0001). Subsequent analyses showed that the plasma BDNF levels significantly correlated with self-reported pain (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) (r s = 0.39, p = 0.04). Furthermore, no correlation was found between the plasma and synovial fluid BDNF concentrations and knee OA severity. The findings of this study suggest that systemic BDNF levels are most likely associated with the mechanism of joint pain in knee OA in the acute stage of joint inflammatory process. Further studies are necessary to address the functional role of BDNF in the modulation of pain to establish new therapeutic implications.

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Acknowledgments

CAPES, CNPq, FAPEMIG, SBFis, and Hospital Nossa Senhora da Saúde-Diamantina.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrated Center for Graduate Studies and Research Health (CIPq-Health), Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Adriano Prado Simão, Vanessa Amaral Mendonça, Tássio Málber de Oliveira Almeida, Wellington Fabiano Gomes & Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda

  2. Hospital Nossa Senhora da Saúde, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Sérgio Antunes Santos

  3. Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Candido Celso Coimbra

  4. Nursing School, Physiotherapy Course, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL), Av. Jovino Fernandes Sales, 2600, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, 37130-000, Brazil

    Adriano Prado Simão

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  1. Adriano Prado Simão
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  2. Vanessa Amaral Mendonça
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  3. Tássio Málber de Oliveira Almeida
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  4. Sérgio Antunes Santos
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  5. Wellington Fabiano Gomes
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  6. Candido Celso Coimbra
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  7. Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda
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Correspondence to Adriano Prado Simão.

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Simão, A.P., Mendonça, V.A., de Oliveira Almeida, T.M. et al. Involvement of BDNF in knee osteoarthritis: the relationship with inflammation and clinical parameters. Rheumatol Int 34, 1153–1157 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-013-2943-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-013-2943-5

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