International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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Dear Colleagues,

Osteoarthritis is a common disease that affects 10% of the world’s population. Despite the fact that Osteoarthritis shortens the healthy life expectancy of many elderly people, its molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown and, therefore, preventive and therapeutic measures are still limited to symptomatic treatment. On the other hand, the development of disease-modifying drugs has been long-awaited. In recent years, attention has been focused on the development of point-of-care cells and drugs that are administered intra-articularly. Local rather than systemic administration is attractive from the standpoint of reduced side effects and drug delivery; so, the delivery of macromolecular agents, genes, nucleic acids, cells, and regenerative medicine are being developed.

This Special Issue, "Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches to Osteoarthritis", focuses on the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches to Osteoarthritis, which is a heterogeneous disease. We welcome papers on basic and translational research of Osteoarthritis.

Dr. Masato Sato
Guest Editor

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Keywords

mode of action
molecular mechanisms
pathogenesis
drug delivery
disease-modifying drug
translational research
cell therapy
regenerative medicine

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Osteophyte Cartilage as a Potential Source for Minced Cartilage Implantation: A Novel Approach for Articular Cartilage Repair in Osteoarthritis

by Shingo Kawabata, Tomoyuki Nakasa, Akinori Nekomoto, Dilimulati Yimiti, Shigeru Miyaki and Nobuo Adachi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5563; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105563 - 20 May 2024

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Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder characterized by cartilage degeneration, often leading to pain and functional impairment. Minced cartilage implantation (MCI) has emerged as a promising one-step alternative for large cartilage defects. However, the source of chondrocytes for MCI remains a challenge, particularly in advanced OA, as normal cartilage is scarce. We performed in vitro studies to evaluate the feasibility of MCI using osteophyte cartilage, which is present in patients with advanced OA. Osteophyte and articular cartilage samples were obtained from 22 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. Chondrocyte migration and proliferation were assessed using cartilage fragment/atelocollagen composites to compare the characteristics and regenerative potential of osteophytes and articular cartilage. Histological analysis revealed differences in cartilage composition between osteophytes and articular cartilage, with higher expression of type X collagen and increased chondrocyte proliferation in the osteophyte cartilage. Gene expression analysis identified distinct gene expression profiles between osteophytes and articular cartilage; the expression levels of COL2A1, ACAN, and SOX9 were not significantly different. Chondrocytes derived from osteophyte cartilage exhibit enhanced proliferation, and glycosaminoglycan production is increased in both osteophytes and articular cartilage. Osteophyte cartilage may serve as a viable alternative source of MCI for treating large cartilage defects in OA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches to Osteoarthritis)

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Review

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18 pages, 973 KiB

Open AccessReview

Glycosphingolipids in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage-Regeneration Therapy: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Prospects Based on a Narrative Review of the Literature

by Kentaro Homan, Tomohiro Onodera, Masatake Matsuoka and Norimasa Iwasaki

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 4890; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094890 - 30 Apr 2024

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Abstract

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs), a subtype of glycolipids containing sphingosine, are critical components of vertebrate plasma membranes, playing a pivotal role in cellular signaling and interactions. In human articular cartilage in osteoarthritis (OA), GSL expression is known notably to decrease. This review focuses on the roles of gangliosides, a specific type of GSL, in cartilage degeneration and regeneration, emphasizing their regulatory function in signal transduction. The expression of gangliosides, whether endogenous or augmented exogenously, is regulated at the enzymatic level, targeting specific glycosyltransferases. This regulation has significant implications for the composition of cell-surface gangliosides and their impact on signal transduction in chondrocytes and progenitor cells. Different levels of ganglioside expression can influence signaling pathways in various ways, potentially affecting cell properties, including malignancy. Moreover, gene manipulations against gangliosides have been shown to regulate cartilage metabolisms and chondrocyte differentiation in vivo and in vitro. This review highlights the potential of targeting gangliosides in the development of therapeutic strategies for osteoarthritis and cartilage injury and addresses promising directions for future research and treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches to Osteoarthritis)

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