Epigenetic Therapies for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age -associated disease characterized by chronic joint pain resulting from degradation of articular cartilage, inflammation of the syno- vial lining, and changes to the subchondral bone. Despite the wide prevalence, no FDA -approved disease -modifying drugs exist. Recent evidence has demon- strated that epigenetic dysregulation of multiple molecular pathways underlies OA pathogenesis, providing a new mechanistic and therapeutic axis with the advantage of targeting multiple deregulated pathways simultaneously. In this review, we focus on the epigenetic regulators that have been implicated in OA, their individual roles, and potential crosstalk. Finally, we discuss the pharmaco- logical molecules that can modulate their activities and discuss the potential advantages and challenges associated with epigenome-based therapeutics for OA.