Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups participate in osteoarthritis: current evidence based on a meta-analysis

Mitochondrial genes’ variants encoded in both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes can disrupt mitochondrial function, resulting in losing of cartilage and generating osteoarthritis (OA). However, the association between mtDNA haplogroups and OA still lacks strength evidence supporting. The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the role of mtDNA haplogroups in speculating the pathogenesis and progression of OA. PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and World Health Organization clinical trials’ registry center were searched to identify relevant studies up to the end of March 2019. Inclusion citations required a case-control or cohort study to demonstrate the association between mtDNA haplogroups and OA’s prevalence or progression. Title, abstract, and full-text screening were sequentially assessed by three reviewers. Data were analyzed using STATA. Besides, publication bias and meta-regression analysis were conducted to explore potential heterogeneities. We collected results from 7 articles. The cluster TJ cases showed a lower proportion in OA cases (RR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.72, 0.96). However, there is no evidence that revealed this kind of impact originated from neither type J nor type T individually. Besides, the type B and G analyses among Asian populations also elucidated a negative association. Moreover, the cluster TJ of mtDNA haplogroups revealed a lower cumulative probability of radiographic OA progression (ES = 0.77, 95% CI 0.63, 0.94), which was contributed by type T (ES = 0.61, 95% CI 0.45, 0.82).The mtDNA haplogroups do have impacts on the prevalence and progression of OA. Cluster TJ could help reduce the prevalence and slow down the radiographic changes; however, the impacts came from type J and type T, respectively.