MicroRNAs in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Abstract Background In recent years, the diagnostic and prognostic values of microRNAs (miRNAs) in different diseases have been extensively studied. Therefore, a meta-analysis of miRNAs has been performed to unravel whether miRNAs could be novel diagnostic markers for osteoarthritis (OA). Methods In...

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Main Authors: Xiaomin Yang, Peng Yin, Xiaoke Yao, Jun Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06059-6
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author Xiaomin Yang
Peng Yin
Xiaoke Yao
Jun Zhang
author_facet Xiaomin Yang
Peng Yin
Xiaoke Yao
Jun Zhang
author_sort Xiaomin Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In recent years, the diagnostic and prognostic values of microRNAs (miRNAs) in different diseases have been extensively studied. Therefore, a meta-analysis of miRNAs has been performed to unravel whether miRNAs could be novel diagnostic markers for osteoarthritis (OA). Methods In this meta-analysis, Cochrane, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PubMed were systematically searched for relevant studies on “miRNA” and “OA”. Studies were selected based on pre-defined criteria. Bivariate models were utilized to analyze diagnostic parameters such as summarized diagnostic odds ratio, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Parameters were provided with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Additionally, the main sources of heterogeneity were probed by conducting subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Results A total of 31 studies from 14 articles were included based on the exclusion and inclusion criteria, encompassing 26 miRNAs and 1842 subjects in total. The pooled estimates unraveled that miRNAs displayed a high diagnostic accuracy, with an overall sensitivity of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77–0.85) and specificity of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.81–0.88) for diagnosing OA. The overall AUC was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87–0.92). The subgroup analysis revealed that miRNAs exhibited higher diagnostic efficacy in downregulated genes compared to upregulated genes. miRNAs demonstrated higher diagnostic value in Asian populations than in European populations. Conclusion miRNAs are promising non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of OA with high accuracy. To establish consistency in international diagnostic standards and address the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods, further research is required for validation.
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spelling doaj-art-0e7235a874744ccca1bfef12b9c5f0e32025-08-20T04:03:03ZengBMCJournal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research1749-799X2025-07-0120111710.1186/s13018-025-06059-6MicroRNAs in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studiesXiaomin Yang0Peng Yin1Xiaoke Yao2Jun Zhang3Department of Orthopaedics, The Afliated Hospital of Innermongolia Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Beijing Chaoyang Hospital of Capital Medical University Department of Orthopedics, Chengdu First People’s HospitalDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Afliated Hospital of Innermongolia Medical UniversityAbstract Background In recent years, the diagnostic and prognostic values of microRNAs (miRNAs) in different diseases have been extensively studied. Therefore, a meta-analysis of miRNAs has been performed to unravel whether miRNAs could be novel diagnostic markers for osteoarthritis (OA). Methods In this meta-analysis, Cochrane, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PubMed were systematically searched for relevant studies on “miRNA” and “OA”. Studies were selected based on pre-defined criteria. Bivariate models were utilized to analyze diagnostic parameters such as summarized diagnostic odds ratio, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Parameters were provided with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Additionally, the main sources of heterogeneity were probed by conducting subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Results A total of 31 studies from 14 articles were included based on the exclusion and inclusion criteria, encompassing 26 miRNAs and 1842 subjects in total. The pooled estimates unraveled that miRNAs displayed a high diagnostic accuracy, with an overall sensitivity of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77–0.85) and specificity of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.81–0.88) for diagnosing OA. The overall AUC was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87–0.92). The subgroup analysis revealed that miRNAs exhibited higher diagnostic efficacy in downregulated genes compared to upregulated genes. miRNAs demonstrated higher diagnostic value in Asian populations than in European populations. Conclusion miRNAs are promising non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of OA with high accuracy. To establish consistency in international diagnostic standards and address the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods, further research is required for validation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06059-6OsteoarthritisMiRNADiagnosisMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Xiaomin Yang
Peng Yin
Xiaoke Yao
Jun Zhang
MicroRNAs in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Osteoarthritis
MiRNA
Diagnosis
Meta-analysis
title MicroRNAs in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_full MicroRNAs in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_fullStr MicroRNAs in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_full_unstemmed MicroRNAs in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_short MicroRNAs in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
title_sort micrornas in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis a systematic review and meta analysis of observational studies
topic Osteoarthritis
MiRNA
Diagnosis
Meta-analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06059-6
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AT pengyin micrornasinthediagnosisofosteoarthritisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofobservationalstudies
AT xiaokeyao micrornasinthediagnosisofosteoarthritisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofobservationalstudies
AT junzhang micrornasinthediagnosisofosteoarthritisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofobservationalstudies