Bone-brain crosstalk in osteoarthritis: pathophysiology and interventions

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Orthopedics
• Genetics

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease causing degeneration and pain, impacting individuals and society.
• Traditionally viewed as a localized issue, OA is now recognized as systemic due to bone-brain interactions.
• The bone-brain axis, involving neural pathways, molecular signals, and genetics, is key to OA development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review emerging evidence on bone-brain axis crosstalk in OA progression.
• To discuss the potential of the bone-brain axis in developing novel OA interventions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies.
• Analysis of research on neural pathways, molecular signaling, circadian rhythms, and genetics in OA.

Main Results:

• Emerging evidence highlights the significant role of the bone-brain axis in OA.
• The interplay between bone and brain influences OA initiation and progression.

Conclusions:

• The bone-brain axis is crucial for understanding OA's systemic nature.
• Targeting the bone-brain axis offers potential for new OA management strategies.