Differentially expressed genes and related pathways of post-traumatic elbw joint extrinsic contractures

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-252X.2017.03.007

Abstract：Objective To study the mechanism of post-traumatic elbow joint extrinsic contracture at molecular level.Methods New Zealand rabbit model of post-traumatic knee extrinsic joint contracture was established to mimic post-traumatic elbow joint extrinsic contracture of human, of which left knees were operated on to result in intra-articular fractures and were fixed for 8 weeks with K-wire as the experimental group. The right knees served as control group. The differentially expressed genes were screened with Agilent whole rabbit genome microarray technology by comparing gene expression profiles of contracted joint capsules with normal ones. The functions of the differentially expressed genes were analyzed and annotated. Partial differentially expressed genes were confirmed by Real-time RT-PCR.Results Ninety differentially expressed genes were detected between experimental group and control group, of which 21 were up-regulated and 69 down-regulated. In the analysis of differentially expressed genes, they were closely related to regulation of response to external stimulus, regulation of lipopolysaccharide-mediated signaling pathway and positive regulation of response to biotic stimulus in the function of biological process, ion binding and ATP binding in the molecular function, and cytoplasmic membrane-bounded vesicle in cellular component. There were mainly 31 pathways related to the differentially expressed genes, including rheumatoid arthritis, phagosome, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, etc. The results of Real-time RT- PCR were consistent with the results of the gene chip when tested for Acta2, MMP2 and KGF genes which were all up-regulated.Conclusions There are differentially expressed genes in the joint capsule of post-traumatic elbow joint extrinsic contracture, which may play a significant role in the formation of joint contracture through multiple channels. These differentially expressed genes and related signal pathways may provide experimental basis for further research of post-traumatic elbow joint extrinsic contracture.