[Epigenetic mechanisms of the interrelations of osteoarthritis with aging.]

A hypothesis is presented according to which the activation of retroelements during aging, causing immune reactions in the human body, is a trigger for the development of osteoarthritis. Predisposition factors for this are polymorphisms associated with osteoarthritis, located in intronic and intergenic regions where transposable elements are localized. In inflamed joints, changes in the expression of many genes are determined, which may be due to pathological activation of retroelements that influence epigenetic dysregulation of the genome. To confirm the hypothesis, data are presented that in patients with osteoarthritis, activated retroelements LINE1, ERV3, HERV-K18 are detected in blood cells, expression products of endogenous retroviruses HERV-E2 and HERV-WE1 and a decrease in the activity of histone deacetylase Sirt6 are detected in joint tissues. Analysis of the MDTE database and scientific literature revealed 12 microRNAs derived from LINE, 5 derived from SINE, 2 derived from HERV, affecting the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and involved in the mechanisms of aging, which may indicate in favor of the presented hypothesis.