| Objective To detect the expression of COMP, MMP-13, and Cbf-β in the serum, urine, synovial fluid, and articular cartilage in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients, and to explore the clinical significance in early diagnosis and evaluation of KOA. Methods The expressions of COMP, MMP-13, and Cbf-β in the serum, urine, and synovial fluid in KOA patients and healthy volunteers were detected with ELISA. The expressions of COMP, MMP-13, and Cbf-β in knee cartilage tissue of KOA patients and control group were detected with Western blotting. Results The expressions of COMP, MMP-13, and Cbf-β in the serum and synovial fluid of KOA patients were higher than those of healthy volunteers. The expressions of COMP, MMP-13, and Cbf-β in healthy control group, experimental control group, and experimental group increased gradually, with significant difference among the groups (P<0.05). The expressions of COMP and MMP-13 in the urine of KOA patients were higher than those of healthy volunteers. The expressions of COMP and MMP-13 in the urine increased gradually in healthy control group, experimental control group, and experimental group, and the difference among the groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The expressions of COMP, MMP-13, and Cbf-β in the knee cartilage of KOA patients were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The high expression of COMP, MMP-13, and Cbf-β in the serum, urine, synovial fluid, and articular cartilage may predict the occurrence of KOA and provide a reference for the early diagnosis of KOA. The expressions of COMP, MMP-13, and Cbf-β in patients with severe lesions are higher than those in patients with mild lesions. The higher the expression level, the higher the WOMAC score and K-L grade may be, which provides a reference for the evaluation of KOA. |