Comparison of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) based on microarray profiles of human joint fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on microarray profiles. Three human joint fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) microarray profiles including 26 OA samples, 33 RA samples, and 20 healthy control (HC) samples were downloaded from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between OA and HC (DEGsOA) and RA and HC (DEGsRA) were identified. Co-expressed and specific genes were analysed between DEGsOA and DEGsRA. Gene ontology, KEGG pathway enrichment, PPI network, and GSEA were performed to predict the function of DEGs. Two hundred seventy-six and 410 differential genes in DEGsOA and DEGsRA were observed. One hundred fifty coexpressed genes and 126 OA-specific genes (SELE, SERPINE1, and NFKBIA were the key genes) between DEGsOA and DEGsRA were enriched in the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) signalling pathway. However, 260 RA-specific genes of which the key genes were CCR5, CCR7, CXCR4, CCL5, and CCR4 were enriched in chemokine signalling pathway. Therefore, FLSs might exert an inflammatory effect by regulating TNF signalling pathway, targeting SELE, SERPINE1, and NFKBIA during the process of OA. Although TNF signalling pathway was also involved in the synovitis of RA, chemokine signalling pathway played the key role in RA FLSs mediating cell migration, invasion, and release of chemotaxis. In addition, CCR5, CCR7, CXCR4, CCL5, and CCR4 might be hub genes in RA. The different biomarkers and pathways identified in OA and RA may provide references for further study. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: This study revealed the similar and different mechanisms of FLSs and different biomarkers that might with important regulatory effects on RA and OA. In OA, FLSs played an inflammatory role through TNF signalling pathway, targeting SELE, SERPINE1, and NFKBIA. Although TNF signalling pathway was also involved in the synovitis of RA, chemokine signalling pathway was a crucial pathway in mediating FLSs migration, invasion, and release of chemotaxis. CCR5, CCR7, CXCR4, CCL5, and CCR4 might be keys genes in RA. We expect that our results will bring more comprehensively understanding between RA and OA for researchers.