Fractalkine (CX3CL1): A Biomarker Reflecting Symptomatic Severity in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Background Elevated serum and synovial fluid (SF) fractalkine (CX3CL1) levels have been detected in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). The current study was carried out to investigate the association between serum and SF fractalkine levels with symptomatic severity in patients with knee OA. Method One hundred ninety-three patients with OA and 182 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The symptomatic severity was assessed by the Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis scores. Results Fractalkine levels in SF and serum were both positively associated with self-reported greater pain and physical disability. Conclusions Fractalkine in SF and serum may serve as a biomarker for reflecting symptomatic severity. Therapeutic interventions that target fractalkine signaling pathways to delay OA-related symptoms deserve further study.