Description

Study Objectives:

1. To investigate the proteomic profile of bone and plasma in clinical osteoporosis compared to patients with osteoarthritis.
2. To study the metabolomic profile of serum in clinical osteoporosis compared to patients with osteoarthriti.
3. To identify and validate potential biomarkers for osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment.
4. To elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in osteoporosis.

   Methodology

Clinical Osteoporosis:

Patient Recruitment: 60 postmenopausal women will be divided into two groups: those with osteoporotic hip fractures and a control group with osteoarthritis undergoing total hip replacement.

Sample Collection:

Bone Samples: Collected from the femoral neck during surgery, cleaned, and divided into four parts. One part will be used for bone density analysis (pQCT or DXA), and the other parts will be stored for proteomic analysis.

Blood Samples: Fasting morning blood samples will be collected for general biochemical tests, bone turnover markers, and stored for metabolomic and proteomic analyses.

Technologies and Analysis:

Proteomics: Utilizes mass spectrometry to identify and quantify proteins in bone and plasma. Key pathways and protein networks involved in osteoporosis will be identified using bioinformatics tools.

Metabolomics: Analyzes small molecules in serum to uncover metabolic changes associated with osteoporosis. Both targeted and non-targeted approaches will be used to identify significant biomarkers.

Expected Outcomes:

1. Identification of specific proteins and metabolites as biomarkers for osteoporosis.
2. Enhanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving bone loss.
3. Validation of therapeutic targets for potential treatment strategies.

   Significance

This integrative approach combining proteomics and metabolomics aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of osteoporosis, facilitating the development of more accurate diagnostic tools and effective treatments for this widespread bone disease.