Potential Applications of the CRISPR-Cas9 System for Research and Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative disease of joint cartilage that affects millions of people in the world, especially the elderly. Progression of osteoarthritis is associated with a plethora of genetic and non-genetic factors. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is emerging as a powerful tool for genome engineering and has remarkable potential for guiding further research into osteoarthritis and may be a viable means for treating the disease. This review discusses existing and potential applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in osteoarthritis studies and treatments. Firstly, we briefly summarize the current status and mechanism of this technology. Next, we focus on the latest advances in the application of CRISPR/Cas9 system in elucidating the contributions of various factors to the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis as demonstrated through in vitro studies and animal models. Finally, we provide our perspective on the direction and challenges of studying and treating osteoarthritis with CRISPR/Cas9.