Investigation of multiple populations highlight VEGFA polymorphisms to modulate anterior cruciate ligament injury

Age not a primary risk factor for ACL injury-A comprehensive review of ACL injury and reinjury risk factors confounded by young patient age

Revision surgery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) is hypothesized to be the result of an interplay between factors associated with the anatomy, physiological characteristics and environment of the patient. The multifactorial nature of revision ACL-R risk is difficult to quantify, and evidence regarding the independent roles of potentially important variables is inconsistent throughout the literature. Young patient age is often cited as one of the most prominent risk factors for reinjury after ACL-R. However, the association between a non-modifiable variable such as patient age and revision ACL-R risk is likely to be a spurious correlation due to the confounding effect of more important variables. From the perspective of healthcare professionals aiming to mitigate revision ACL-R risk through targeted interventions, awareness of factors like generalized joint hypermobility, bone morphology, muscle strength imbalances, and genetic factors is critical for the individualized risk assessment of patients with ACL injury. The aim of this current concepts article is to raise awareness of the essential anatomical, physiological, and activity-related risk factors associated with ACL injury and reinjury risk that are likely captured and confounded by patient age. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.

Inter-assay variability in the measurement of urinary C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type II collagen following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Objective

To compare urinary C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type II collagen (u-CTX-II) concentrations and trends as measured by two different commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in a cohort of patients in the first year following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Design

22 ACL-injured patients undergoing reconstructive surgery (mean age 25.2 (SD 8.0) years; 12 (54.5 ​%) male) had urine samples taken on the day of surgery (baseline) and at 6 and 12 months post-operatively. Concentrations of u-CTX-II were measured using the CloudClone® and the CartiLaps® ELISA. u-CTX-II concentrations were normalized to urinary creatinine (Cr).

Results

The u-CTX-II concentrations were significantly different between the 2 assays at each timepoint (p ​≤ ​0.01). When measured using the CloudClone® Assay, mean (standard error) u-CTX-II concentrations were 26.5 (2.5) ng/mmol Cr, 29.4 (3.8) ng/mmol Cr and 40.6 (6.9) ng/mmol Cr at the baseline, 6-month and 12-month timepoints respectively. When measured using the CartiLaps® Assay, at the same respective timepoints, u-CTX-II concentrations were 981.2 (256.5) ng/mmol Cr, 867.0 (234.3) ng/mmol Cr and 764.3 (220.3) ng/mmol Cr. Concentrations of u-CTX-II using the CloudClone® Assay increased with time (p ​= ​0.04). Concentrations of u-CTX-II using the CartiLaps® Assay decreased over time (p ​= ​0.2).

Conclusion

Using two commercially available assays, u-CTX-II differed significantly in terms of both concentration and trends in the first year following ACL reconstruction. The specific assay used is critical to consider when interpreting results and has implications for pooling data and meta-analysis.

The Role of Biomarkers in Predicting Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

Background

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is frequently associated with injuries to other parts of the knee, including the menisci and articular cartilage. After ACL injury and reconstruction, there may be progressive chondral degradation. Biomarkers in blood, urine, and synovial fluid can be measured after ACL injury and reconstruction and have been proposed as a means of measuring the associated cellular changes occurring in the knee.

Purpose

To systematically review the literature regarding biomarkers in urine, serum, or synovial fluid that have been associated with an outcome measure after ACL reconstruction.

Study Design

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

This review was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify studies published before September 2023 that reported on patients undergoing ACL reconstruction where a biomarker was measured and related to an outcome variable. Of 9360 results, 16 studies comprising 492 patients were included. Findings were reported as descriptive summaries synthesizing the available literature.

Results

A total of 45 unique biomarkers or biomarker ratios were investigated (12 serum, 3 urine, and 38 synovial fluid; 8 biomarkers were measured from >1 source). Nineteen different outcome measures were identified, including the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, numeric pain scores, radiological outcomes (magnetic resonance imaging and radiography), rates of arthrofibrosis and cyclops lesions, and gait biomechanics. Across the included studies, 17 biomarkers were found to have a statistically significant association (P < .05) with an outcome variable. Serum interleukin 6 (s-IL-6), serum and synovial fluid matrix metalloproteinase-3 (s-MMP-3 and sf-MMP-3), urinary and synovial fluid C-terminal telopeptide of type 2 collagen (u-CTX-II and sf-CTX-II), and serum collagen type 2 cleavage product (s-C2C) showed promise in predicting outcomes after ACL reconstruction, specifically regarding patient-reported outcome measures (s-IL-6 and u-CTX-II), gait biomechanical parameters (s-IL-6, sf-MMP-3, s-MMP-3, and s-C2C), pain (s-IL-6 and u-CTX-II), and radiological osteoarthritis (ratio of u-CTX-II to serum procollagen 2 C-propeptide).

Conclusion

The results highlight several biomarkers that have been associated with clinically important postoperative outcome measures and may warrant further research to understand if they can provide meaningful information in the clinical environment.

Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor A gene polymorphisms and tendon and ligament injury risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Relevant evidence suggests that angiogenic factors contribute significantly to fibril matrix reconstruction following physical injuries to tendon ligaments. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), with its potent angiogenic effect, has been studied extensively, and its functional polymorphisms, including rs699947, rs1570360, and rs2010963, have been the focus of numerous investigations. Some scholars have explored the association between gene polymorphisms in the VEGFA and the risk of tendon ligament injury, but the findings are not entirely consistent.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between rs699947, rs1570360, and rs2010963 gene polymorphisms in VEGFA and the risk of tendon and ligament injuries.

METHODS

After including articles about the association of VEGFA rs699947, rs1570360, and rs2010963 polymorphisms with tendon and ligament injuries according to the search strategy, we assessed their quality and conducted meta-analyses to examine the link between these polymorphisms and the risk of tendon and ligament injuries using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Of 86 related articles, six were included in the meta-analysis. Some of these suggest an association between VEGFA rs2010963 and the risk of tendon and ligament injury in the population, with the specific C allele being one of the adverse factors for knee injury. Some studies suggest that VEGFA rs699947 and VEGFA rs1570360 single-nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with anterior cruciate ligament rupture. The risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament rupture is nearly doubled in individuals with the rs699947 CC genotype compared to the control group. Our analysis did not find any significant relationship between VEGFA gene polymorphisms (rs699947, rs1570360, and rs2010963) and the chance of tendon and ligament injury without consideration of race. However, the European population reveals that the CC genotype of VEGFA rs699947 can result in a greater risk of tendon and ligament injury, whereas the AG genotype for rs1570360 provides some protection. Additionally, rs2010963 was significantly associated with tendon and ligament injury; individuals with the C allele and the CC genotype had higher risk. False-positive report probability confirmed the high credibility of our results.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this study found no significant association between VEGFA rs699947, rs1570360, and rs2010963 polymorphisms and the risk of tendon ligament injury. However, in subgroup analysis, some genotypes of VEGFA rs699947, rs1570360, and rs2010963 were found to increase the risk of tendon ligament injury in European populations.

Genetic Determinants of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Sport: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACLIs) are one of the most common knee injuries in sports. Although numerous factors have been related to the risk of ACLIs, it is still unclear why some individuals are more susceptible than others due to the intricate etiology of ACLIs. Several genetic factors have been identified as contributing to ACLIs. This systematic review summarizes the current evidence regarding the genetic causes of ACLIs based on the available literature. Five electronic databases were searched from 2017 to 2022. All titles, abstracts, and full texts were reviewed in detail to determine the inclusions and exclusions. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the risk of bias. The studies' characteristics and results are presented in both narrative and tabular formats. A total of 24 studies examined 31 genes and 62 variants associated with ACLIs in the global population. Ten studies investigated seven collagens and ten SNPs for the ACL injury. The majority of studies found no significant difference in the association of the COL1A1 rs1800012, COL5A1 rs12722, VEGFA rs1570360, IL6R rs2228145, IL6 rs1800795, IL1B rs16944 and rs1143627, however, contrary results were found when nationality and gender were considered together. Conflicting evidence was found for polymorphisms rs2010963, rs699947 of the VEGFA gene in different studies. Due to a lack of data, it was impossible to determine the relationship between the anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACLR) and the other polymorphisms. More research is required to establish a clear relationship between the ACLR and genetic variants, particularly when gender and nationality are taken into account separately.

Tendon and Ligament Genetics: How Do They Contribute to Disease and Injury? A Narrative Review

A significant proportion of patients requiring musculoskeletal management present with tendon and ligament pathology. Our understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that lead to such disabilities is increasing. However, the complexity underpinning these interactive multifactorial elements is still not fully characterised. Evidence highlighting the genetic components, either reducing or increasing susceptibility to injury, is increasing. This review examines the present understanding of the role genetic variations contribute to tendon and ligament injury risk. It examines the different elements of tendon and ligament structure and considers our knowledge of genetic influence on form, function, ability to withstand load, and undertake repair or regeneration. The role of epigenetic factors in modifying gene expression in these structures is also explored. It considers the challenges to interpreting present knowledge, the requirements, and likely pathways for future research, and whether such information has reached the point of clinical utility.