Osteoarthritis: Insights into Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, Therapeutic Avenues, and the Potential of Natural Extracts

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) stands as a prevalent and progressively debilitating clinical condition globally, impacting joint structures and leading to their gradual deterioration through inflammatory mechanisms. While both non-modifiable and modifiable factors contribute to its onset, numerous aspects of OA pathophysiology remain elusive despite considerable research strides. Presently, diagnosis heavily relies on clinician expertise and meticulous differential diagnosis to exclude other joint-affecting conditions. Therapeutic approaches for OA predominantly focus on patient education for self-management alongside tailored exercise regimens, often complemented by various pharmacological interventions primarily targeting pain alleviation. However, pharmacological treatments typically exhibit short-term efficacy and local and/or systemic side effects, with prosthetic surgery being the ultimate resolution in severe cases. Thus, exploring the potential integration or substitution of conventional drug therapies with natural compounds and extracts emerges as a promising frontier in enhancing OA management. These alternatives offer improved safety profiles and possess the potential to target specific dysregulated pathways implicated in OA pathogenesis, thereby presenting a holistic approach to address the condition’s complexities.

Identification and validation of novel characteristic genes based on multi-tissue osteoarthritis

“…The occurrence and development of OA are closely related to the interactions among cartilage, subchondral bone, and synovitis. Despite some controversy regarding the order of pathological events, it is undeniable that these components are all involved in disease progression 17,18 , which may lead to the unreliability of current research results [19][20][21][22] . The application of machine learning (ML) in OA biomarker development has garnered growing research interest.…”