%0 Journal Article
%T Epigenomic differences between osteoarthritis grades in primary cartilage.
%A Kreitmaier P
%A Swift D
%A Wilkinson JM
%A Zeggini E
%J Osteoarthritis Cartilage
%V 32
%N 9
%D 2024 Sep 23
%M 39053729
%F 7.507
%R 10.1016/j.joca.2024.07.008
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Osteoarthritis is a common and complex joint disorder that shows higher prevalence and greater disease severity in women. Here, we investigate genome-wide methylation profiles of primary chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>We compare genome-wide methylation profiles of macroscopically intact (low-grade) and degraded (high-grade) osteoarthritis cartilage samples matched from osteoarthritis patients undergoing knee replacement surgery. We perform an epigenome-wide association study for cartilage degeneration across 170 patients and separately in 96 women and 74 men.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>We reveal widespread epigenetic differences with enrichments of nervous system and apoptosis-related processes. We further identify substantial similarities between sexes, but also sex-specific markers and pathways.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Together, we provide the largest genome-wide methylation profiles of primary cartilage to date with enhanced and sex-specific insights into epigenetic processes underlying osteoarthritis progression.