Sixteen proteins, including CCL20, OSM, EN-RAGE, IL8, and IL6, were present at higher levels in PJI compared to NIAF samples, with Log2FoldChange values of 3.05, 2.48, 2.61, 2.54, and 2.27, respectively, while 21, including CSF-1, OPG, MCP-1, and 4E-BP1, were present at lower levels in PJI compared to NIAF samples, with Log2FoldChange values of − 1.43, − 1.42, − 1.39, and − 1.30, respectively (Fig. 1D). Here, CSF1 is linked to juvenile polyposis syndrome.