Functional genomics in osteoarthritis: Past, present, and future

Area of Science:

• Genomics and Osteoarthritis Research

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disease causing pain and mobility loss.
• Genomic alterations are increasingly recognized as crucial in OA pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of functional genomics studies in human knee and hip OA.
• To identify common themes in the genomic underpinnings of OA.

Main Methods:

• Review of genome-wide functional genomics studies, including methylation, gene expression, and protein expression.
• Analysis of studies focusing on knee and hip osteoarthritis in humans.

Main Results:

• Emerging common themes point to the involvement of extracellular matrix, immune response, WNT pathway, angiogenesis, and skeletal development.
• Individual studies often had limited sample sizes, impacting statistical power.

Conclusions:

• Functional genomics studies reveal key biological processes involved in OA.
• Larger-scale studies and standardized methodologies are essential for further elucidation of OA's biological etiology.