Research progress on regulation of autophagy in osteoarthritis chondrocytes by microRNAs

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease primarily characterized by articular cartilage degeneration. Autophagy is a crucial intracellular homeostatic system that plays a vital role in maintaining normal cartilage function. By regulating cell apoptosis and repairing damaged chondrocytes, autophagy protects cartilage, and dysfunction in chondrocyte autophagy is an important pathogenic mechanism underlying cartilage degeneration in OA. MicroRNAs (miRNA) can regulate gene expression and play a key role in chondrocyte development and functional maintenance. MiRNA involved in the regulation of autophagy are aberrantly expressed in OA, suggesting that miRNAs may serve as potential targets and biomarkers for early prediction, diagnosis, and effective treatment of OA. This review discussed the role of autophagy in OA and the regulatory role of miRNA in OA development, with a focus on the role of miRNA-mediated regulation of chondrocyte autophagy in OA pathogenesis and its potential therapeutic value.