The oral-gut-joint axis in osteoarthritis: a multiomics case-control study

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Osteoarthritis pathophysiology
• Multi-omics integration

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread degenerative joint disease with significant socioeconomic impact.
• Emerging evidence points to systemic factors, particularly the gut-joint axis, in OA pathogenesis.
• The role of the oral-gut-joint pathway in OA remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize oral and gut microbiota signatures in OA patients.
• To investigate functional connections between microbial dysbiosis and cartilage degeneration.
• To integrate multi-omics data for a comprehensive understanding of OA.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional observational study with 25 OA patients and 20 healthy controls.
• 16S rDNA gene amplicon sequencing of fecal and oropharyngeal samples.
• Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of cartilage tissues.

Main Results:

• Distinct gut and oral microbiome dysbiosis identified in OA patients.
• Increased gut microbiota alpha-diversity with enrichment of Ruminococcaceae and Subdoligranulum.
• Oral microbiota showed increased alpha-diversity and activated lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathway.
• Cross-omics analysis linked gut microbes to cartilage inflammation and ECM remodeling genes (e.g., MAPK11, ANGPT2).

Conclusions:

• The study reveals dysbiotic oral-gut microbiome characteristics in OA.
• Complex associations between the microbiome and pathological cartilage changes were identified.
• Findings provide mechanistic insights and potential targets for microbiota-based OA interventions.