4. Evre Osteoartrit Tanılı Bireylerde Serum ve Sinyoviyal Sıvıdaki Sklerostin ve DKK-1 Düzeylerinin İrisin ile İlişkisinin Araştırılması.

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic and degenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of joint cartilage and deterioration in joint function, especially in older individuals. The knee joint, the most common site of OA, represents the most clinically evident form of degenerative osteoarthritis (DOA). Numerous risk factors, such as oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, vitamin D deficiency, and obesity, play a role in the pathogenesis of DOA. In recent years, studies aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of the disease have brought to the fore the role of inhibitors such as Sclerostin (SOST) and Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1), which are involved in the regulation of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, in the DOA process. At the same time, in this process, the potential effects of irisin, a myokine released by skeletal muscle due to exercise and showing positive effects on bone and cartilage tissue, are a subject of research. This study aims to compare the levels of SOST and Dkk-1 in the serum and synovial fluid of individuals with stage 4 knee osteoarthritis with healthy controls and to reveal the relationship between these molecules and irisin, which is known to have anabolic effects on bone metabolism. The study will include 40 individuals over the age of 60 who were diagnosed with stage 4 knee osteoarthritis according to the Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) staging system and a control group of healthy individuals under the age of 40 who applied to the Orthopedics and Traumatology clinic of Elazığ Fethi Sekin City Hospital. Irisin, sclerostin, and Dkk-1 levels will be analyzed in serum and synovial fluid samples obtained from the participants using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Statistical analyses will be performed with the SPSS 22.0 program, and appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests will be used depending on the data distribution. The findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the molecular markers involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and pave the way for identifying new therapeutic targets by elucidating the relationship between sclerostin, Dkk-1, and irisin.