Experimental models to study osteoarthritis pain and develop therapeutics.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Orthopedics
• Pain Research

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by pain, with no current treatments to reverse or halt its progression.
• Effective and safe long-term OA pain management options are unavailable.
• Understanding OA pain mechanisms is crucial for developing novel therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on knee joint innervation and molecular mechanisms of OA pain.
• To discuss the contribution of individual joint components to OA pain.
• To summarize experimental models and assessment methods for OA pain research, highlighting microphysiological systems.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of existing literature on OA pain.
• Analysis of joint innervation and molecular pathways.
• Summary of rodent pain models and assessment techniques.
• Exploration of microphysiological systems for OA research.

Main Results:

• Detailed overview of knee joint innervation and its role in OA pain.
• Discussion of molecular mechanisms contributing to OA pain.
• Presentation of current experimental models and assessment methods for OA pain.
• Highlighting the potential of microphysiological systems in advancing OA pain research.

Conclusions:

• Current understanding of OA pain mechanisms is incomplete, necessitating further research.
• Standardization of models and careful selection of systems are critical challenges in OA pain research.
• Emerging technologies like microphysiological systems offer promising avenues for future OA pain studies.