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Epigenetics as a Therapeutic Target in Osteoarthritis

Carmen Núñez-Carro1, Margarita Blanco-Blanco1, Karla Mariuxi Villagrán-Andrade1

  • 1Unidad de Epigenética, Grupo de Investigación en Reumatología (GIR), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Complexo Hospitalario Universitario, de A Coruña (CHUAC), Sergas, 15006 A Coruña, Spain.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 1, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetics, including DNA methylation and RNA modifications, significantly impacts osteoarthritis (OA) development. Understanding these epigenetic changes offers new therapeutic targets and biomarkers for this prevalent joint disease.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread joint disease with no effective treatments.
  • Epigenetic mechanisms are increasingly recognized for their role in OA pathogenesis.
  • Articular cartilage is a key focus for understanding OA's molecular underpinnings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on epigenetic mechanisms in osteoarthritis.
  • To focus on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs in articular cartilage.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for OA.

Main Methods:

  • Literature search conducted in the PubMed database.
  • Review of studies on epigenetic regulation in OA pathogenesis.
  • Focus on DNA methylation, histone PTMs, and various ncRNAs (miRNAs, circRNAs, lncRNAs).

Main Results:

  • Aberrant epigenetic mechanisms dysregulate essential cartilage molecules in OA.
  • These epigenetic dysregulations contribute to OA development and progression.
  • Specific epigenetic alterations are linked to the pathology of articular cartilage.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic dysregulation is a key factor in osteoarthritis.
  • Targeting epigenetic mechanisms presents novel therapeutic strategies for OA.
  • Epigenetic modifications can serve as valuable biomarkers for OA detection and monitoring.
Keywords:
DNA methylationcircRNAepigeneticshistone acetylationhistone methylationlncRNAmiRNAosteoarthritis

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