Osteoarthritis (OA), the most prevalent disease of articulating joints, is a complex multifactorial disease caused by genetic, mechanical, and environmental factors. In this research, we evaluated miRNA expression in OA.
Forty tissue samples from 29 patients undergoing joint replacement for OA were evaluated. Tissue from two control patients undergoing hip replacement not related to OA was used as a control. Total RNA (containing miRNA species) from cartilage was isolated using a miRCURYTM [corrected] Isolation Kit. Expression of 19 miRNAs was assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Expression of four miRNAs, miR-138-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-335-5p, and miR-9-5p, was significantly upregulated in OA tissues (patients vs. control group).
These findings may contribute to disease prevention and the development of therapeutic targets for OA.