Epigenomic differences between osteoarthritis grades in primary cartilage
- PMID: 39053729
- DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2024.07.008
Epigenomic differences between osteoarthritis grades in primary cartilage
Abstract
Objective: Osteoarthritis is a common and complex joint disorder that shows higher prevalence and greater disease severity in women. Here, we investigate genome-wide methylation profiles of primary chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients.
Design: We compare genome-wide methylation profiles of macroscopically intact (low-grade) and degraded (high-grade) osteoarthritis cartilage samples matched from osteoarthritis patients undergoing knee replacement surgery. We perform an epigenome-wide association study for cartilage degeneration across 170 patients and separately in 96 women and 74 men.
Results: We reveal widespread epigenetic differences with enrichments of nervous system and apoptosis-related processes. We further identify substantial similarities between sexes, but also sex-specific markers and pathways.
Conclusions: Together, we provide the largest genome-wide methylation profiles of primary cartilage to date with enhanced and sex-specific insights into epigenetic processes underlying osteoarthritis progression.
Keywords: Cartilage; Chondrocytes; DNA methylation; EWAS; Osteoarthritis; Sex specificity.
Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
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