Dysregulation of epigenetic related genes in Diabetic Trigger finger Patients; preliminary analysis of Patient-Derived Samples

Introduction

Trigger finger or stenosing tenosynovitis is one of the most common finger aliment which is a result of a size disproportion of the flexor tendons and the surrounding retinacular pulley system at the first annular (A1) pulley. TF may lead to substantial long-term disability in the form of an inability to passively manipulate the finger to achieve normal motion. The pathophysiology of TF is still not completely clear. Several studies have pointed towards the pulley as the cause versus the tendon, but the consensus is that the system undergoes inflammatory and hypercellular changes to affect the normal motion. It’s widely considered that it’s caused by inflammation and subsequent fibrotic narrowing of the A1 pulley, which causes pain, clicking, catching, and loss of motion of the affected finger [1,2]. However, some studies revealed the tendon is the main site of pathological inflammation is the tendon (tendinosis) [3,4]. The trigger finger is in the clinical practice, frequently caused by stenosing tenosynovitis at the A1 pulley. The pulley system is a complex network of ligaments against the bowstringing of the flexor tendons. Most commonly, the trigger finger involves the A1 annular pulley at the level of the distal palmar crease [5].

The condition is usually idiopathic but can be caused by overuse, previous trauma, or an underlying connective tissue disorder, such as amyloidosis, Dupuytren’s contracture, or hypothyroidism [1,6]. Patients with TF represent around 2% of the general population [1,7]. However, the TF prevalence is higher among diabetic patients-ranges from 6.7% to 10%-[8], as well as it’s seen more frequently in the female population [6], typically in the 5^th -6^th decade of life [9]. Moreover, the incidence of subsequent trigger finger after carpal tunnel release in diabetics is 8% and 10% at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, as compared to non-diabetics at 3% and 4% [10]. Almost 80% of diabetic patients are at risk of some form of musculoskeletal inflammation, degeneration, or infection [11]. Both type 1 and type 2 DM are at high risk of tendinopathy or tendonitis. The flexor tendons of the hand are more likely to be affected in DM. Limited function and diminished mobility are reported in approximately 50% of diabetic patients’ hands [12].

Corticosteroid injection is the main pillar in managing the idiopathic stenosing tenosynovitis. It showed superiority in modifying the inflammatory response and the course of the disease, when compared to and other nonoperative treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and splinting [13, 14, 15]. However, Forty-eight percent of patients reported the recurrence of symptoms after steroid injection [16]. Diabetic patients experienced less response to conservative treatment, such as injections [17]. Also, they have a higher risk of persistent triggering after corticosteroid injection [18].

It’s evident that epigenetic modifications have been implicated in the pathology of diabetes and its complications [16, 19]. The molecular basis of epigenetic modifications is complex and includes modifications of histones, methylation of DNA, and gene regulation by non-coding RNAs [20]. Several genes have been detected to be up- or down-regulated in trigger finger, as well as other tendinosis, such as Achilles tendinitis [21]. These genes include aggrecan, biglycan, versican, decorin, collagens type 1a1 and 3a1, and matrix metalloproteinases. Epigenetic modifications are potentially reversible, and, therefore, a thorough understanding of these changes may identify new therapeutic targets for the disease. Our study is designed to examine the expression of Cytokines (TGF-b, IGF), and Extracellular matrix (ECM) components (collagen/proteoglycan aggrecan) and epigenetic related genes such as DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3), histone deacetylase (HDAC1, HDAC2) in diabetics and non-diabetics patient-derived TF samples. Our hypothesis relies on Diabetes-induced epigenetic modification as an underlying determinant. We have evaluated the gene expression of epigenetic regulation associated with inflammation and structural integrity.

Material and Methods

Results

2.1 A Carpel tunnel syndrome (CT) versus Trigger Finger (TF)

COL-1 mRNA expression in patients with TF was significantly higher (p-value= 0.002) expression than in carpel-tunnel syndrome. Also, COL-II mRNA expression was significantly higher (p-value= 0.0214) in TF samples, when compared to samples from CT syndrome. However, there was no significant difference between both groups in COL-X mRNA expression. Aggrecan showed the trend of up-regulation in TF patients than CT syndrome patients [Figure.1]

Figure 1

Extracellular matrix and growth factors genes dysregulated in trigger finger samples. (a) Collagen1, (b) Collagen 2, (c) Collagen X, (d) Aggrecan, (e) IGF1 and (f) TGFb1 gene expression level dysregulated in trigger finger (TF) samples compare to Carpel tunnel syndrome (CT). *P<.05, #P<.01, (n=8-17).

DNA methyltransferases enzymes (DNMT1, DNMT3)

Carpel tunnel syndrome (CT) versus Trigger Finger (TF)

In patients with TF, the mRNA expression of DNMT1 was significant (p-value= 0.04) up-regulated (>50 folds). While DNMT1 was expressed at a low level in patients with CT syndrome. DNMT3 expression was significant (p-value= 0.0039) down-regulated in TF when compared to CT patients [Figure.2].

Figure 2

Methylation related genes dysregulated in trigger finger samples. (a) DNMT1, (b) DNMT3, (c) HDAC1, and (d) HDAC2 gene expression level dysregulated in trigger finger (TF) samples compare to Carpel tunnel syndrome (CT). *P<.05, #P<.001 (n=8-17).

Figure 3

Extracellular matrix and growth factors genes dysregulated in diabetic trigger finger samples. (a) Collagen1, (b) Collagen 2, (c) Collagen X, (d) Aggrecan, (e) IGF1 and (f) TGFb1 gene expression level dysregulated in diabetic trigger finger (D-TF) samples compare to trigger finger (*P<.05, , #P<.001 (n=8-17) (n=8-17).

Diabetic TF versus Non-Diabetic TF

Diabetes was associated with a statistically significant (p-value= 0.04) increase in the DNMT1 expression as compared to non-diabetic TF patients. Also, Diabetic TF patients revealed a trend of increase in DNMT3 expression [Figure.4].

Figure.4

Methylation related genes dysregulated in diabetic trigger finger samples. (a) DNMT1, (b) DNMT3, (c) HDAC1, and (d) HDAC2 gene expression level dysregulated in diabetic trigger finger (D-TF) samples compare to trigger finger (TF) *P<.05, , #P<.001 (n=8-17).

Discussion

In this study, we have evaluated the expression of ECM and epigenetic related genes in diabetic and non-diabetic tenosynovitis samples. The overall pattern of gene expression detected in the trigger finger has some similarities to the previous studies on Achilles tendinosis [22, 23, 24]. To our knowledge, there is no existing empirical research investigating the various aspects of epigenetic regulation of trigger finger in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. This study presents the first preliminary data of the epigenetic modification of gene expression in diabetic trigger fingers.

The primary determinant of tendinopathy progression is the integrity and remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) [25]. ECM is formed of several structural proteins such as (collagens) and proteoglycans such as (aggrecan, versican, decorin, etc.) [26]. Increase expression of proteoglycans contributes to the alteration of physical properties of the fibrocartilaginous region, which consequently results in changes in pain intensity and threshold in response to mild shear, compression or mechanical load [27, 28, 29]. Type I collagen is the most abundant of total body collagen, and it is found in fibrous connective tissues such as tendons [26]. Our results showed significant up-regulation of the mRNA level of COL-I and II within A1 pully of diabetic patients (p= 0.0164 and p=0.0351, respectively). Also, Aggrecan expression is substantially and abnormally up-regulated in diabetic TF. Chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes increased the production of collagen and other extracellular matrix components, which in turn are deposited in a disorganized manner [30]. One of the hypothesized effects of corticosteroid injection in releasing the trigger finger is minimally restoring collagen hemostasis via increasing expression of organized collagen without any structural disruption to the tendon integrity [31]. The disruption of ECM and its compactness in diabetic tendinopathy may explain the higher risk of resistance to corticosteroid injections and the recurrence of TF in diabetes.

There are many factors that regulate the cellular and extracellular mechanisms of proteoglycan synthesis. The changes in homeostasis (formation/degradation balance) of ECM molecules could ultimately alter the composition and physical properties [32]. All these cellular and extracellular components are targeted by circulating factors such as growth factors, cytokines, and hormones. The Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) can each act as local mediators of cellular response, and they can regulate cellular interactions based on the ubiquitous nature of their receptors [33]. TGF-β affects all phases of the healing process [34] TGF-β is mitogenic for fibroblasts and stimulates the production of collagen and fibronectin. Its effects on the extracellular matrix are more complex than that of any other growth factor. TGF-b and IGF-1 have been specifically involved in the regulation of cartilage development [35]. Also, in-vivo studies have correlated the increased TGF-b expression and increased synthesis of ECM [36,37]. Our results revealed that the mRNA expressions of Insulin-like growth factors-1 (IGF-1) and Transforming growth factors (TGF-b) were abnormally up-regulated in both diabetic and non-diabetic TF, with higher levels in diabetes. Local overexpression of TGF-b in the synovium leads to the formation of cartilage-like tissue between the collateral ligaments and bone, synovial hyperplasia, as well as the formation of chondo-osteophytes [38].

Epigenetic regulation has been specifically implicated in the regulation and pathogenesis of many musculoskeletal disorders. Epigenetics is an acquired modification of chromatin DNA or histone proteins such as DNA methylation and histone modification. These modifications mainly dysregulated gene expression without an alteration in the DNA sequence [39]. DNA methylation plays an important role in the regulation of inflammatory genes. Also, its role in the regulation of type-I and II collagen genes during chondrocyte differentiation and dedifferentiation are well known [40]. DNA methylation is mediated by two main enzymes, DNA methyltransferases 1 and 3 (DNMT1, DNMT3), while Histones modulate the activity of gene promotor by histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylases (HDAC), respectively [41]. Aberrant DNA methylation and histone modification can be induced during aging and chronic inflammation. Our results showed that the mRNA expression of DNMT1 was highly up-regulated (>50 folds) in patients with TF. While Diabetic TF is associated with a statistically significant increase in the DNMT3 expression compared to non-diabetic TF patients. (p=0.0485). Besides, Diabetic TF patients revealed a slight increase in DNMT1 expression. (p=0.1144). Yan et al [42] demonstrated that diabetes impairs the healing by DNMT1-dependent dysregulation of hematopoietic stem cell differentiation towards macrophages. Several other studies also reported dysregulation of DNMTs in diabetic complications such as diabetic retinopathy [43], neuropathy [44], nephropathy [45], and podocyte injury [45].

Histone deacetylase enzymes are known to plays a critical role in embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and pathophysiology of various diseases [46]. We analyze two main histone deacetylase enzymes, HDAC1 and HDAC2. Both enzymes were significantly up-regulated in diabetic TF, higher compared to non-diabetic TF. Noh et al. (2009) reported HDAC-2 activity elevated in the kidneys of STZ-induced diabetic rats and db/db mice, whereas treatment with nonselective HDAC inhibitor decreased accumulation of extracellular matrix and prevented epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and decrease fibrosis in the diabetic kidney [47]. Similarly, Lee et al. (2019) demonstrated that HDAC inhibitor (MGCD0103), ameliorated streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia, islet deformation, decreased insulin levels, macrophage infiltration and protects pancreas from STZ-induced oxidative stress [48]. Several DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylase inhibitors are approved by the FDA to treat various cancers [49,50]. Recent preclinical studies showed promising positive outcomes in diabetic complications [47,48,51,52]. Of note, this may highlight the clinical relevance of DNMT and HDAC inhibitors as a novel approach to manage diabetic TF. Combination of DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylase inhibitors, along with anti-diabetic drugs, might help in reducing the diabetic complication of TF.

Our study has some limitations. First, we couldn’t provide clinical data about the trigger finger stages. Secondly, the control specimens were obtained from patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, among which the incidence of trigger finger is known to be high, and third, we only analyze gene expression at the mRNA level. It is impossible to collect specimens from healthy subjects. Furthermore, the sample collected from patients is a small quantity, which is not sufficient for both gene and protein analysis.

Diabetes is sufficient to induce an irreversible cascade of pathologic changes in the tendon structure, including altered ECM organization, ultimately leading to diminished mechanical properties and tendon range of motion. The chronic state of hyperglycemia induces epigenetic modifications of gene expressions. This seems to significantly impact the development, recurrence, and progression of trigger finger in diabetic patients. Understanding the alterations in histone modifications and DNA methylation will provide a good base for better managing trigger finger cases and even developing novel, targeted therapeutic drugs. Further studies with large patient samples and wide epigenetic analysis are still required to define the role of epigenetics modifications in trigger fingers. Taken together, these insights into the mechanism by which diabetes impairs the trigger finger management open multiple avenues to new promising techniques to restore normal function and thereby reduce the risk of resistance to conservative therapy or recurrence in diabetic patients.