The role of mitochondrial autophagy in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative joint disease, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of OA remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between mitochondrial autophagy and OA by identifying key regulatory genes and their biological functions. Utilizing bioinformatics analyses of RNA expression profiles from the GSE55235 dataset, we identified 2,136 differentially expressed genes, leading to the discovery of hub genes associated with mitochondrial autophagy and OA. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed their involvement in critical pathways, highlighting their potential roles in OA pathogenesis. Furthermore, our study explored the immunological landscape of OA, identifying distinct immune cell infiltration patterns that contribute to the disease's inflammatory profile. We also evaluated the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting these hub genes, suggesting potential approaches for OA treatment. Collectively, this study advances our knowledge of mitochondrial autophagy in OA and proposes promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets.