Immunogenetic aspects of osteoarthritis (literature review)

Inflammation plays critical role in the onset and progression of osteoarthritis (OA), a joint disease affecting more than 10 % of the world's population. Exporing immunological mechanisms of osteoarthritis is essential. The present paper is a literature review of immunogenetic aspects of the pathogenesis of the disease. The study is aimed at analysis and summary of information concerning the immunogenetics and molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis. Material and methods The original literature search was conducted on key resources including Scientific Electronic Library (www.elibrary.ru) and the National Library of Medicine (www.pubmed.org) with subsequent selection of articles, analysis and synthesis of information. Results and discussion Mutations in proinflammatory cytokine and receptor genes, metalloprotease genes, HLA genes and in the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4) gene, polymorphisms in phospholipase and IL-2 genes are more common for OA patients than for healthy subjects. Epigenetic regulation in OA include a decreased methylation of the promoters of proinflammatory cytokine and metalloprotease genes and a decreased methylation of NF-κB-sensitive iNOS enhancer sites. OA patients show an increased activity of histone acetylases in the IL-6 promoter area. In contrast, the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines is decreased due to the reduced activity of the SIRT1 deacetylase.