Differential Expression of ACAN, COL1A1, and COL2A1 in Cartilage and Synovium During Osteoarthritis Progression: An Observational Pilot Study Supported by Preliminary Bioinformatic Analysis

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) patients experience poorer quality of life due to persistent symptoms and chronic pain. Unfortunately, the molecular basis of OA development is poorly understood, thus posing a major challenge for therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study was to compare the expression of genes encoding key cartilage proteins in OA-affected tissue from the relatively preserved lateral compartment of the knee joint in relation to knee OA advancement stage. This study focuses on molecular changes in individual areas of the knee, which may be important for the use of partial endoprostheses in patients.