Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40645615›Full record

ArticleRMD open2025

Evaluating the role of lipopolysaccharides in the joint: fibronectin as a novel protective mechanism.

Kajetana Bevc, Shipin Zhang, Andres Pazos-Perez, Ana Alonso-Perez, David Fercher, Sami Kauppinen, Tuomas Frondelius, Valentino Bruhin, Gian Salzmann, Thomas Rauer and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in RMD open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Venom-Derived Proteins fromInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Kajetana BevcD-HEST, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-9743-0335
Shipin ZhangD-HEST, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Andres Pazos-PerezUniversity Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Ana Alonso-PerezUniversity Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
David FercherD-HEST, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Sami KauppinenResearch Group of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Tuomas FrondeliusResearch Group of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Valentino BruhinSchulthess Klinik, Zürich, Switzerland.
Gian SalzmannSchulthess Klinik, Zürich, Switzerland.
Thomas RauerDepartment of Traumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Hans-Christoph PapeDepartment of Traumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Mikko Arttu Jalmari FinniläResearch Group of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Caroline OspeltCenter of Experimental Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-9151-4650
Rodolfo GomezUniversity Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Kari K EklundDepartment of Rheumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Marcy Zenobi WongD-HEST, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Goncalo BarretoClinicum, University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki, Finland goncalo.barreto@helsinki.fi.ORCID 0000-0003-4444-9208

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the presence and bioactivity of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in synovial fluid (SF) of osteoarthritis (OA) patients and elucidate mechanisms modulating their inflammatory potential.

methodsSF samples from 56 OA, 7 rheumatoid arthritis and 39 trauma patients were analysed for LPS concentration and bioactivity. Lipid A composition was assessed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). In a rat model, LPS was administered systemically for 32 days to evaluate its impact on joint degeneration. The interaction between LPS and synovial proteins, particularly fibronectin (Fn), was examined through in vitro assays and a 3D synovial membrane model.

resultsLPS was detected in all SF samples with comparable concentrations and lipid A profiles across all groups. LC-MS measurements indicated higher LPS levels than those obtained from standard endotoxin assays, suggesting limitations in conventional detection methods. Despite elevated LPS presence, bioactivity assays revealed minimal proinflammatory responses, implying the existence of intrinsic SF factors neutralising LPS. In vivo, prolonged systemic LPS exposure did not induce OA-like changes in rat joints. Notably, LPS colocalised with Fn in the synovial membrane, and Fn binding attenuated LPS bioactivity and hindered its migration in vitro.

conclusionsLPS is prevalent in SF across various joint conditions but exhibits low bioactivity, indicating it is not a primary driver of joint inflammation. Fn plays a crucial role in sequestering and neutralising LPS within the synovial environment, offering a protective mechanism against LPS-induced inflammation. These findings underscore the need for accurate LPS measurement techniques and suggest potential therapeutic targets for modulating joint inflammation.

Indexed as

FibronectinsJointsLipopolysaccharidesOsteoarthritisSynovial FluidAgedAnimalsArthritis, RheumatoidChromatography, LiquidDisease Models, AnimalFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRatsSynovial MembraneFibronectinsLipopolysaccharidesInflammationOsteoarthritis, KneeSynovial fluid

Identifiers

PMID40645615
PMCPMC12248214

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.