Serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) expression in individuals who sustained a youth sport-related intra-articular knee injury 3–10 years previously and uninjured matched controls

This study investigates the relationship between a youth sport-related intra-articular knee injury and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a biomarker of cartilage turnover. Participants included a sub-sample (n = 170) of the Alberta Youth Prevention of Early Osteoarthritis (PrE-OA) study group. Specifically, 85 individuals with a 3–10 year history of sport-related intra-articular knee injury and 85 age, sex and sport-matched controls. COMP levels were investigated in serum. Between group differences in COMP levels, COMP fragmentation patterns and, the relationship between serum COMP and clinical outcomes (i.e., Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Osteoarthritis Knee Score; MOAKS, Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score; KOOS, Fat mass index; FMI) were examined. Participant median age was 22.3 years (range 16–26) and 63% were female. Although there was no difference in COMP levels between previously injured and uninjured females, previously injured males demonstrated an ∼15% greater (171.5 ng/ml, 95% CI 11.0–428.0, P = 0.04) serum COMP level than uninjured males. However after controlling for FMI, this difference was absent. Within the injured participants, COMP levels were associated with MOAKSSYNOVITIS and FMI. Furthermore, COMP fragmentation patterns were distinct between injured and uninjured individuals. In this study group, serum COMP levels were greater in injured males, but not females, compared to matched controls. However, after controlling for FMI, no differences in COMP were observed. A unique COMP fragmentation pattern was observed in injured vs uninjured participants. These results further the hypothesis that COMP levels and/or degradation of the protein may be a marker of cartilage injury which could predispose to later OA.