Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Identifies Candidate Regulatory Networks in Bone Metabolic Dysregulation of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) represents a prevalent articular condition characterized by significant disturbances in bone metabolic balance, yet the molecular pathways governing these skeletal alterations remain inadequately defined.This study conducted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of 30 OA patients and 30 controls, revealing significant alterations in purine, lipid, and amino acid metabolism in OA patients. Retinol metabolism and ubiquinone biosynthesis showed increased activity, while histidine metabolism decreased. Key metabolites correlated with bone turnover markers (β-CTX, PINP, N-MID). Transcriptomic analysis identified differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) involved in apoptosis, inflammation, and lipid metabolism. Integrated analysis revealed candidate regulators connecting IL-17, MAPK, histidine, and fatty acid signaling pathways, providing potential intervention targets for OA bone metabolic abnormalities.