Cellular and molecular changes in the human osteoarthritic and aging hip pulvinar

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifaceted pathology characterized by complex signaling across joint tissues. The sub-synovial adipose tissue (ssAT) has been proposed to function as a stem cell reservoir, mechanosensor, neuroendocrine organ, and regulator of inflammation. We aimed to distinguish cellular and molecular changes in ssAT associated with OA from those related to normal aging.

Pulvinar ssAT samples were collected from four groups: young patients without OA (<20 years, n=21), adults without OA (20-40 years, n=59), young patients with OA (<40 years, n=28), and older patients with OA (>70 years, n=27). Stem cell content, tissue architecture, and gene expression were assessed using colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-f) assays, immunohistochemistry, and a targeted NanoString transcriptomic panel (Immunology v2).

OA samples displayed a marked increase in mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSPCs) compared to age-matched controls, a finding not observed with aging alone. This expansion correlated with the upregulation of MSPC markers DPP4 and THY1. Both OA and aging were associated with remodeling of the immune landscape, characterized by reduced innate immune signatures, enrichment of exhausted CD8⁺ T cells, and transcriptional upregulation of inflammatory (e.g., IL6,MME) and fibroblast activation genes (THY1,DPP4). Vascular remodeling further distinguished OA from aging, while adipocyte innervation remained unchanged.

These findings position the pulvinar ssAT as an active contributor to joint homeostasis and OA pathogenesis. The pathological activation of MSPCs, angiogenesis, and immune dysregulation in OA highlight ssAT as a dynamic tissue driving both degenerative and reparative processes, and a potential therapeutic target.