Soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 levels in synovial fluid are correlated with disease severity of knee osteoarthritis

Objectives

This study was aimed to measure soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) levels in serum and synovial fluid (SF) of knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients and to investigate the correlation between sLOX-1 levels and the disease severity.

Design and methods

Two hundred and sixteen OA patients and 83 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All OA patients were scored for Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade (0–4). The sLOX-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

In OA patients, the mean sLOX-1 levels in SF were markedly lower than those in paired serum samples (P < 0.01). The SF sLOX-1 levels increased with higher KL grade (P < 0.01) and were significantly correlated with disease severity (r = 0.324, P < 0.01). SF sLOX-1 level was the independent factor for predicting the disease severity of OA (β: 0.281, 95%CI: 0.145–0.396).

Conclusions

SF sLOX-1 levels were independently and positively associated with disease severity in knee OA.