The Association Between NO-Synthase Gene Polymorphisms and the Development of Post-Traumatic Knee Osteoarthritis Among Residents of Rostov Region

Abstract—Traumas are among the leading risk factors for the development of osteoarthritis of the knee (OA). The aim of the present work was to study the associations between polymorphisms in the nNOS and eNOS genes and the risk of the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the knee (PTOA) among residents of Rostov region. The results indicate the development of nitrosative stress in blood plasma and synovial fluid (SF) in PTOA. However, the nitrite/nitrate content in the SF was associated with the genotype of the ‒786T > C locus of the eNOS gene; carrying the –786 С mutant allele leads to a decrease in the ${\text{NO}}_{x}^{ - }$ content. The –84A allele of the polymorphic nNOS gene can be associated with the risk of the development of PTOA and intensification of chondrocyte apoptosis, which is confirmed by the electron-microscopic study of cartilage tissue containing early and late apoptotic chondrocytes.