This study was conducted to identify cytokine profiles associated with radiographic phenotypes of knee osteoarthritis (rKOA) with a focus on early stage of the disease.

The pilot population study involved 60 middle-aged patients (mean age 50 ± 7.3y.). Standardized weight-bearing anteroposterior and axial radiographs were used to assess rKOA severity in tibiofemoral (TFJ) of patellofemoral joint (PFJ) by grading system (grades 0–3). Luminex (xMAP^®) technology was used to simultaneously assess 60 biomarkers (BMs).

Several pathways of angiogenic (CXCL10/IP-10, FGF1/2, PDGF-AA/BB, ANG1, RANTES), tissue remodeling/fibrosis (MMP1/3, TIMP2/3/4, TGFβ), and fat tissue (leptin) BMs associated with rKOA severity already in very early phase (grade 1). We identified several sets of cytokines as key markers of early knee osteoarthritis (KOA) predicting radiographic features in logistic-regression models (AUC = 0.80–0.97). Marked sex-specificity of rKOA course was detected: upregulation of angiogenesis dominated in females, whereas the activation of tissue remodeling was dominant in males. Several of these shifts, e.g., decrease of CXCL10/IP-10, took place only in grade 1 KOA and disappeared or reversed in later stages. OA of different knee-joint compartments has distinct profiles of cytokines. A broad list of BMs (TIMP2/3/4, MMP1/3, TGFβ1/2, vWF-A2, sE-selectin and leptin) associated with OA in the PFJ.

Our results demonstrate that substantial and time-limited shifts in the angiogenic and TIMP/MMP systems occur in the early stage of KOA. Our study findings highlight the sex-, grade- and compartment-dependent shifts in above processes. The data may contribute to the individualized prevention of KOA in the future.