Genetic polymorphism in the asporin gene is not a key risk factor for osteoarthritis: Evidence based on an updated cumulative meta-analysis

To provide an evidence-based medical basis for the treatment of osteoarthritis, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between asporin (ASPN) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to osteoarthritis (OA). The current study searched the literature from January 1st, 1915 through February 1st, 2017 using the Cochrane Library, PubMed, the Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE) and three main Chinese databases (VIP, CNKI and Wan Fang). Cohort and case-control studies that explored the association between different types of ASPN alleles and OA susceptibility were evaluated. The K/L grading system, clinical and radiological diagnoses were used for OA diagnosis. A random-effects model was used in a pooled analysis to adjust for heterogeneity of the included studies, and the differences between treatment groups were reported as odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and P-values. Begg's funnel plots and Egger's tests were used to assess publication bias in the present meta-analysis. Following document retrieval and screening, a total of 10 studies were deemed eligible, including 4,842 patients and 3,661 healthy subjects. Results of the multivariate meta-regression analysis revealed that the study sample size was a source of heterogeneity between studies. The D17 allele was a risk factor for the development of OA (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.02–1.73, P<0.05). The other alleles were not considered as risk factors for development of OA (P>0.05). The results of the meta-analysis verified that ASPN polymorphisms were not significantly relevant to an increased OA risk. However, the mechanisms contributing to the association between ASPN polymorphisms and OA risk still require further study.