Gene expression profiling of peripheral blood in patients with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) is a severe complication following glucocorticoid therapy. This study aimed to identify the differential mRNA expression and investigate the molecular mechanisms of SONFH. RNA sequencing was performed in eight SONFH patients, five non-SONFH patients and five healthy individuals. A total of 1555, 3997 and 5276 differentially expressed mRNAs existed between the following combinations: SONFH versus non-SONFH, SONFH versus healthy subjects and non-SONFH versus healthy subjects. Increased expression might contribute to a high risk of SONFH through antiangiogenesis. Decreased expression might affect the metabolism of homocysteine, leading to avascular necrosis of the femoral head. , which plays a pivotal role in regulating bone development, was also deregulated. , and might be related to the occurrence of SONFH.