Ubiquitination and deubiquitination: Implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of osteoarthritis

Identification and Validation of Pivotal Genes in Osteoarthritis Combined with WGCNA Analysis

Introduction

The prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA), the most common chronic joint condition, is increasing due to the aging population and escalating obesity rates, leading to a significant impact on human health and well-being. Thus, analyzing the key targets of OA through bioinformatics can help discover new biomarkers to improve its diagnosis.

Methods

The microarray and RNA-seq results were screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Functional enrichment analyses, protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of the DEGs were performed. RT-qPCR and WB were further performed to verify the hub gene expression in OA rat.

Results

In this study, 35 key genes were identified through differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) using the GSE169077 and GSE114007 datasets. Enrichment analysis revealed that these key genes were predominantly enriched in the HIF-1 signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, and FoxO signaling pathway. Through the integration of protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, validation in animal models and ROC curve analysis, four pivotal genes (GADD45B, CLDN5, HILPDA and CDKN1B) were finally identified.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these identified key genes could serve as novel targets for predicting and treating OA, offering fresh insights into its etiology and pathogenesis.

Mechanical Signal Transduction: A Key Role of Fluid Shear Forces in the Development of Osteoarthritis

Globally, osteoarthritis is a common and highly disabling disease that places a heavy burden on society and medical systems. The role of biomechanical factors in the development of osteoarthritis has gradually received more attention. As a key biomechanical stimulus, fluid shear force is becoming the focus of research for its dual role in maintaining cartilage health and disease progression. This paper conducts an in-depth discussion on the mechanism of fluid shear force in osteoarthritis and its impact on the disease process, aiming to reveal how fluid shear stress affects the development of osteoarthritis by regulating the physiological function and signal transduction pathways of chondrocytes.

Cuprorivaite microspheres inhibit cuproptosis and oxidative stress in osteoarthritis via Wnt/β-catenin pathway

This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential of cuprorivaite microspheres for osteoarthritis (OA), in particular, potential molecular mechanisms were investigated. The microspheres were developed from Ca(NO3)2•4H2O, Cu(NO3)2•3H2O, and silica gel, and further therapeutic effects were tested in vitro on mouse primary chondrocytes treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) to mimic OA, and in vivo on OA mice induced via anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) surgery. The microspheres were shown to mitigate IL-1β-induced apoptotic, inflammatory, oxidative stress and cuproptosis markers while enhancing cell viability and extracellular matrix (ECM) components in chondrocytes. Moreover, the microspheres ameliorated histopathological damage, reduced inflammatory, oxidative stress and cuproptosis markers, and enhanced ECM biomarker levels in OA mice, implicating their role in suppressing cuproptosis and oxidative stress. The aforementioned effects of the cuprorivaite microspheres were demonstrated by using SKL2001, an agonist of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The results suggest cuprorivaite microspheres as a promising intervention for OA and cartilage regeneration, highlighting their therapeutic effects on cellular and molecular levels.