Non-Coding RNAs in Osteoarthritis: From Epigenetic Regulation to Therapeutic Targets
A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "RNA".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2026) | Viewed by 425
Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of disability and pain worldwide, with over 500 million people affected. Despite its high prevalence and socio-economic burden, current treatment strategies primarily address symptoms in the late stages of OA. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms driving disease progression and new drug targets is urgently needed. Νon-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have emerged as key regulators in the complex molecular landscape of OA, by regulating the expression of genes implicated in OA-related processes such as chondrocyte proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, extracellular matrix metabolism, and inflammatory responses. These molecules form intricate regulatory networks that influence joint tissue homeostasis and have become increasingly recognized as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in OA. High-throughput sequencing technologies, bioinformatics tools, and computational analyses have accelerated the identification of disease-associated ncRNAs and unveiled their mechanistic roles in OA pathogenesis. Moreover, recent studies have highlighted the potential of ncRNA-based therapies, including antisense oligonucleotides, miRNA mimics/inhibitors, and exosome-mediated delivery systems, in modulating OA-related pathways. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest findings on the role of ncRNAs in OA onset and progression, shedding light on these emerging molecular players to advance our understanding of OA biology and inspire the development of novel RNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The submission of original articles and comprehensive reviews is welcome.
Prof. Dr. Ioanna Papathanasiou
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- osteoarthritis
- microRNAs
- long non-coding RNAs
- circular RNAs
- biomarkers
- therapeutic strategies
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
