Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Bone and Cartilage Homeostasis: RNA-Mediated Mechanisms in Age-Related Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common age-related joint disorder, affecting more than 500 million people worldwide and representing a leading cause of pain, disability, and loss of independence in older adults. While long considered a disease of cartilage wear and tear, OA is now recognised as a whole-joint condition involving cartilage degeneration, subchondral bone remodelling, synovial inflammation, and disrupted communication between bone and cartilage compartments. Aging is the strongest risk factor, yet the molecular mechanisms that link cellular senescence, tissue homeostasis, and joint failure remain only partially understood.A growing body of evidence points to post-transcriptional regulation as a central, and often overlooked, layer of control in musculoskeletal aging. RNA-mediated mechanisms, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, RNA-binding proteins, alternative splicing, RNA modifications such as m6A, and extracellular vesicle-delivered RNA cargo, fine-tune the expression of genes governing chondrocyte identity, osteoblast and osteoclast balance, matrix remodelling, inflammation, and senescence. Disruption of these networks contributes to cartilage loss, subchondral bone changes, and the chronic, low-grade inflammation that drives age-related OA.This Research Topic aims to bring together the latest advances in our understanding of how RNA-mediated mechanisms regulate bone and cartilage homeostasis during aging, and how their dysregulation contributes to the onset and progression of OA. By integrating insights from molecular biology, skeletal aging, biomechanics, and translational medicine, we hope to highlight new biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and RNA-based strategies for preserving joint health in older adults.We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to:1. MicroRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in chondrocyte function, cartilage homeostasis, and OA progression2. RNA-binding proteins and alternative splicing in bone and cartilage aging3. Epitranscriptomic modifications, including m6A, in skeletal cells and joint tissues4. Extracellular vesicle-mediated RNA communication between cartilage, bone, and synovium5. Post-transcriptional control of cellular senescence and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype in OA6. RNA-mediated regulation of subchondral bone remodelling and bone-cartilage crosstalk7. Non-coding RNAs as circulating biomarkers for early diagnosis, staging, or prognosis of age-related OA8. RNA-based therapeutic strategies, including antisense oligonucleotides, siRNAs, miRNA mimics or inhibitors, and mRNA therapeutics9. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomic approaches to dissect post-transcriptional landscapes in aged joints10. Sex- and age-specific differences in RNA regulation of musculoskeletal tissuesDespite significant progress, no disease-modifying therapy is currently available for OA, and existing treatments remain largely symptomatic. A deeper understanding of the post-transcriptional networks that govern bone and cartilage homeostasis in aging may open the door to precision RNA-based interventions capable of slowing, halting, or even reversing joint degeneration. By bringing together work from RNA biology, skeletal research, and geroscience, this Research Topic aims to advance the molecular understanding of musculoskeletal aging and accelerate the development of next-generation therapies for older adults living with OA.We invite submissions of Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods, Perspectives, and Opinion articles. Topic editors: Ioannis Kanakis, Ioanna Myrtziou Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81052/post-transcriptional-regulation-of-bone-and-cartilage-homeostasis-rna-mediated-mechanisms-in-age-related-osteoarthritis