Cellular aging towards osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common form of degenerative joint disease. Aging process is supposed to be a leading predictor for developing OA. In this review, we have discussed the potential roles of aging in OA, a better understanding of which might delay or stop the development and progression of OA. Different cellular signaling mechanisms are involved process of aging that induces age-related changes in chondrocytes. These changes influence the expression of catabolic factors resulting in increased production of matrix metalloproteinases and cytokines, reduced levels of collagen type II and aggrecan synthesis, and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and chondrocyte death, which contributes to the development of OA. Antioxidant supplementation is probably the best way to prevent or delay the age-related OA. Some therapeutic agents like histone deacetylase inhibitors and anti-miR34a agents have been reported to be effective against age-related OA. However, further research is needed to demonstrate the efficacy of these alternative treatment strategies in clinical trials using controlled and prospective studies.