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Experimental Therapeutics for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany.
Abstract:
Osteoarthritis (OA) therapy remains a large challenge since no causative treatment options are so far available. Despite some main pathways contributing to OA are identified its pathogenesis is still rudimentary understood. A plethora of therapeutically promising agents are currently tested in experimental OA research to find an opportunity to reverse OA-associated joint damage and prevent its progression. Hence, this review aims to summarize novelly emerging experimental approaches for OA. Due to the diversity of strategies shown only main aspects could be summarized here including herbal medicines, nanoparticular compounds, growth factors, hormones, antibody-, cell- and extracellular vesicle (EV)-based approaches, optimized tools for joint viscosupplementation, genetic regulators such as si- or miRNAs and promising combinations. An abundant multitude of compounds obtained from plants, environmental, autologous or synthetic sources have been identified with anabolic, anti-inflammatory, -catabolic and anti-apoptotic properties. Some ubiquitous signaling pathways such as wingless and Integration site-1 (Wnt), Sirtuin, Toll-like receptor (TLR), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Nuclear Factor (NF)-κB and complement are involved in OA and addressed by them. Hyaluronan (HA) provided benefit in OA since many decades, and novel HA formulations have been developed now with higher HA content and long-term stability achieved by cross-linking suitable to be combined with other agents such as components from herbals or chemokines to attract regenerative cells. pH- or inflammation-sensitive nanoparticular compounds could serve as versatile slow-release systems of active compounds, for example, miRNAs. Some light has been brought into the intimate regulatory network of small RNAs in the pathogenesis of OA which might be a novel avenue for OA therapy in future. Attraction of autologous regenerative cells by chemokines and exosome-based treatment strategies could also innovate OA therapy.
Insights
Novel experimental osteoarthritis (OA) therapies show promise, including herbal medicines, nanoparticles, and cell-based approaches. These strategies target key pathways to potentially reverse joint damage and halt OA progression.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pharmacology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) therapy faces challenges due to a lack of causative treatments and incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis.
- Current OA management focuses on symptom relief, highlighting the need for disease-modifying strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging experimental therapeutic approaches for osteoarthritis.
- To summarize diverse strategies including herbal medicines, nanoparticles, growth factors, cell-based therapies, and genetic regulators.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of experimental OA research.
- Categorization of therapeutic strategies based on their source and mechanism of action.
- Analysis of signaling pathways targeted by novel OA treatments.
Main Results:
- Identified numerous compounds with anabolic, anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic, and anti-apoptotic properties.
- Highlighted the role of signaling pathways (Wnt, Sirtuin, TLR, mTOR, NF-κB, complement) in OA pathogenesis.
- Discussed advancements in hyaluronic acid (HA) formulations, nanoparticular drug delivery, and small RNA (siRNA, miRNA) therapeutics.
Conclusions:
- Experimental OA therapies offer potential for reversing joint damage and preventing progression.
- Combinatorial approaches, advanced drug delivery systems (nanoparticles, HA), and cell/extracellular vesicle-based strategies represent promising future directions.
- Targeting small RNA networks and utilizing chemokines for regenerative cell attraction could innovate OA treatment.
