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Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals Riluzole as an Osteoarthritis Candidate Drug via OB-NE Signaling Modulation and
Kun Liu1, Jia-Li Li1, Yan Chen2
1Laboratory of Molecular and Statistical Genetics, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, 410081, People's Republic of China.
Introduction:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease involving multiple cell types, yet the role of osteoblast (OB)-immune cell interactions remains poorly understood.
Methods:
Single-cell RNA sequencing of human femoral head tissue was employed in this study, followed by integrated analysis using bioinformatics tools such as differential expression analysis, enrichment analysis and cell communication analysis. A network proximity-based drug repositioning approach was employed to identify potential drug candidates. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to explore the causal relationship between drug targets and OA. In vivo, a triclocarban (TCC)-induced zebrafish OA model was treated with selected drugs, and transcriptomic sequencing, network pharmacology and molecular docking were performed to identify potential drug targets.
Results:
We found OB populations as key OA-associated cells, differentially expressed genes in OBs were enriched in neutrophil (NE)-mediated immune pathways. Cell communication analysis revealed enhanced bidirectional OB-NE signaling in OA, primarily mediated through the CXCL12-CXCR4 and RETN-CAP1 pathways. Riluzole was identified as a therapeutic candidate through drug repositioning analysis. MR showed an inverse association between the expression of its target SLC7A11 and OA risk (OR=0.84, 95% CI=0.72-0.98, P=0.027). In zebrafish OA models, riluzole treatment significantly reduced joint degeneration and downregulated CTSS, NOS1 and key components of the MAPK/ERK pathway. Molecular docking studies demonstrated strong binding affinity of riluzole to CTSS and NOS1, suggesting that inhibition of these targets may underlie its therapeutic action via suppression of MAPK/ERK suppression.
Conclusion:
This study highlights riluzole as a promising repositioned drug for OA. Limitations of this study include the relatively small sample size and the need for further translational validation in clinical settings.
Insights
Osteoarthritis involves osteoblast and immune cell interactions. Riluzole shows promise in reducing joint degeneration by targeting specific pathways, offering a potential new treatment for OA.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics and Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis involves complex cellular interactions, with osteoblast (OB) and immune cell roles poorly understood.
- Understanding OB-immune cell crosstalk is crucial for developing novel OA therapeutics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate OB-immune cell communication in OA.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets and repositioned drugs for OA treatment.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell RNA sequencing of human femoral head tissue.
- Bioinformatic analyses including differential expression, enrichment, and cell communication analysis.
- Network proximity-based drug repositioning, Mendelian randomization, and zebrafish OA models.
Main Results:
- Osteoblast populations identified as key OA-associated cells with enriched neutrophil-mediated immune pathways.
- Enhanced bidirectional osteoblast-neutrophil signaling via CXCL12-CXCR4 and RETN-CAP1 pathways in OA.
- Riluzole identified as a therapeutic candidate, showing reduced joint degeneration and pathway modulation in zebrafish models.
Conclusions:
- Riluzole demonstrates potential as a repositioned drug for osteoarthritis.
- Further translational validation is required due to study limitations such as sample size.
