Cross-species gene modules emerge from a systems biology approach to osteoarthritis

Abstract

Joint degeneration: linking animal and human disease Cartilage, and other tissues in our joints, begins to degenerate with age resulting in pain and reduced mobility; this is termed osteoarthritis (OA). To understand OA better researchers have often used animal models to represent this disease; however, these models have never been fully-evaluated against human cartilage. This study considered the messages produced by cartilage cells in both humans and rats. Using a method that creates a network of messages the study was able to define “blocks” of cell messages that were associated with diseased cartilage in both the rat and human. As part of this study the authors also defined a set of messages that could be used to distinguish healthy and disease cartilage. In this way it may be possible to define patients with early OA that may benefit from therapeutic interventions. (135)