Actin-Bundling Protein, Fascin-1, as a Target of Osteoarthritis Progression

The cellular mechanisms underlying osteoarthritis pathogenesis are not fully understood. However, recent in vivo and in vitro studies show that actin cytoskeletal reorganization plays a critical role in the progression of osteoarthritis. It has been shown that targeting the inhibition of actin-bundling protein, fascin, is a favorable way to reorganize actin and prevent chondrocyte dedifferentiation that occurs in osteoarthritis. In a surgical model of osteoarthritis, targeting fascin reduces cartilage degradation and disease severity. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting fascin in osteoarthritis. Future research to develop a further mechanistic understanding on the critical role actin and actin network molecules play in osteoarthritis may lead to the development of actin-based therapies against disease progression.