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Recent Advances in Osteoarthritis Pathways and Biomarker Research

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 1037

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540139 Târgu Mureș, Romania
Interests: biomarkers; biochemistry; inflammation; osteoarthritis; atherosclerosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Osteoarthritis is a complex disease characterized by joint degeneration, remodeling, and low-grade inflammation. Despite intensive research, no significant pharmacological breakthroughs have been achieved in the last two decades. Several critical pathways, such as chondrocyte degeneration, hypertrophy and apoptosis, and synovial and subchondral bone remodeling, still represent a key research focus, because their mapping may aid in the identification of regulatory checkpoints of therapeutic interest, as well as biomarkers of disease progression. For this Special Issue, we welcome original research manuscripts presenting cellular models, histologic changes, genetic studies, and soluble biomarkers, as well as thematic reviews.

Dr. Előd Ernő Nagy
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • osteoarthritis
  • low-grade inflammation
  • cartilage chondrocyte
  • synovial membrane
  • synovial fluid
  • subchondral bone
  • biomarkers

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 2797 KB  
Article
Comparative Pain Expression and Its Association to Intestinal Microbiota Through the MI-RAT© Osteoarthritis Model Induced in LOU/C/Jall and Sprague-Dawley Aged Rats
by Marilyn Frézier, Colombe Otis, Emilie Labelle, Bertrand Lussier, Pierrette Gaudreau, Simon Authier, Marcio Carvalho Costa, Hélène Beaudry and Eric Troncy
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7698; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167698 - 8 Aug 2025
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Abstract
To investigate the involvement of gut–brain axis in musculoskeletal chronic pain in the elderly, this preclinical study aimed to compare osteoarthritis (OA) pain expression, cognitive function and gut microbiota composition in two aging rat strains (11–15 months). A validated surgically induced OA model [...] Read more.
To investigate the involvement of gut–brain axis in musculoskeletal chronic pain in the elderly, this preclinical study aimed to compare osteoarthritis (OA) pain expression, cognitive function and gut microbiota composition in two aging rat strains (11–15 months). A validated surgically induced OA model was used in Sprague-Dawley (SD; n = 12), as standard group, and in LOU/C/Jall rats (LOU; n = 8), a healthy aging model. The OA pain response was assessed longitudinally (60 days) through quantitative sensory testing (mechanical sensitization and endogenous inhibitory control functionality), spatial memory, and gut microbiota. At sacrifice, joint structural alterations and spinal neuropeptides concentrations were quantified. After OA induction, higher mechanical hypersensitivity in LOU than in SD was also associated with higher endogenous inhibitory control (p < 0.05). Expression of pro-/anti-nociceptive spinal neuropeptides, cognitive function and joint alterations were similar in both groups. Gut microbiota composition was different (p < 0.001) and different taxa were associated with each strain (e.g., Akkermansia spp. with LOU vs. Lactobacillus spp. with SD). This study suggests healthy aging to be associated with more efficient endogenous pain control and expression of specific intestinal bacteria. This research questions the implication of the intestinal microbiota in aging and chronic pain control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Osteoarthritis Pathways and Biomarker Research)
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9 pages, 1777 KB  
Article
Patient-Derived Explants of Osteoarthritic Synovium as Ex Vivo Model for Preclinical Research
by Claudia D’Oria, Gilberto Cincinelli, Ramona Bason, Federica Pisati, Francesca Simoncello, Isabella Scotti, Laura Giudice, Ilaria Suardi, Paolo Ferrua, Chiara Fossati, Pietro Simone Randelli, Roberto Caporali, Massimiliano Pagani and Francesca Ingegnoli
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 6665; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146665 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 418
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic arthropathy worldwide. OA synovitis is a common feature that predicts the development and progression of symptoms and joint damage. Although the OA synovium is a target for novel therapies, the development of ex vivo models remains [...] Read more.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic arthropathy worldwide. OA synovitis is a common feature that predicts the development and progression of symptoms and joint damage. Although the OA synovium is a target for novel therapies, the development of ex vivo models remains an area requiring further research. We aim to develop a 3D tissue explant culture model of human OA synovium that preserves the architecture and cellular heterogeneity of the original tissue in vitro. We derived tissue explant models from seven patients with OA and followed the culture for up to 10 days, assessing their morphology and cellular composition by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and flow cytometry, respectively. IHC analysis of explant cultures showed that tissue integrity and viability were maintained in our in vitro system. Furthermore, cellular heterogeneity was essentially unchanged when considering CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and myeloid fractions in our model. No significant variation was observed in the CD90+ and CD90-CD55+ fractions, which also maintained an activated state as indicated by high levels of FAP expression. An ex vivo OA synovial tissue explant model can maintain pathological tissue integrity for 10 days in culture. This simple and reliable culture system may be useful for analyzing the pathogenesis of OA disease and for the development and testing of therapeutic drugs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Osteoarthritis Pathways and Biomarker Research)
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