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: 25 October 2025 | Viewed by 24
Special Issue 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
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Keywords
- osteoarthritis
- microRNAs
- long non-coding RNAs
- circular RNAs
- biomarkers
- therapeutic strategies
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