Hypermethylation of in CD4 T cells is associated with the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Smad7 is protective in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. Here we investigated whether Smad7-expressing CD4 T cells and the methylation of gene in CD4 T cells contribute to the disease activity of RA in patients.

Methods: Peripheral CD4 T cells were collected from 35 healthy controls and 57 RA patients.

lncRNA MEG8 is downregulated in osteoarthritis and regulates chondrocyte cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) maternally expressed 8, small nucleolar RNA host gene (MEG8) has been widely reported for its pro-proliferative, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects in diverse diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects and underlying mechanism of MEG8 on IL-1β-stimulated human osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes. C28/I2 chondrocytes were cultured under the stimulation of IL-1β to establish a cellular model of OA.

Molecular basis and therapeutic potential of myostatin on bone formation and metabolism in orthopedic disease.

Myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, is a key autocrine/paracrine inhibitor of skeletal muscle growth. Recently, researchers have postulated that myostatin is a negative regulator of bone formation and metabolism. Reportedly, myostatin is highly expressed in the fracture area, affecting the endochondral ossification process during the early stages of fracture healing.