Emerging Insights into the Molecular Basis of Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis and Treatment Strategies

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and debilitating degenerative joint disease associated with aging and more common among women. OA is a disease that affects many parts of the joint, including cartilage, subchondral bone, and the synovium. Although the exact cause of OA is still under investigation, major factors include dysregulation of inflammatory cytokines and loss of function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Unfortunately, current treatments for OA are limited to symptomatic management, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), intra-articular injections such as hyaluronic acid (or cortisol), physical therapy, and surgical intervention, none of which can affect disease progression or provide permanent solutions. Currently there is no FDA approved treatment that can address the molecular basis of OA, although some promising candidates include bone marrow-derived MSC injection, adipose-derived MSC injection, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), TissueGene-C, and CK2.1.