Correlation Of Mri T2-Star Mapping And The Expression Of Gamma-Glutamyl Carboxylase In Degenerative Knee Cartilage

Objective: The study objective was to investigate the correlation of MRI T2-star mapping and the expression of gamma-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX) in degenerative knee cartilage. Methods: In this study, 20 female patients with mild, moderate, or severe osteoarthritis (OA) were selected as the study subjects, and 20 healthy women were used as the control group. Using a GE 3.0T magnetic resonances canner, a conventional scan of the knee was first performed (sagittal, coronal T1WI and T2WI, axial T2WI), followed by T2-star mapping and diffusion-weighted imaging. The cartilage specimens in the NMR region of interest were obtained, and the expression level of GGCX in the cartilage was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays. Results: The averages of the T2-star values of different segments of the articular cartilage with mild, moderate, and severe knee OA were significantly higher than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05), and they were negatively correlated with the GGCX content in the cartilage. Conclusions: MRI T2-star mapping and the expression of GGCX in degenerative knee cartilage were found to be closely related. This correlation allows for early diagnoses prior to morphological changes in the knee cartilage as well as early intervention measures to improve treatment outcomes.