# Mechanistic insights into non-coding RNAs regulate autophagy in chondrocytes and their contribution to osteoarthritis

**Authors:** Bo Wang, Zhihong Wang

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1735826 · 2026-02-02

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how non-coding RNAs regulate autophagy in cartilage cells, contributing to osteoarthritis development.

## Contribution

The paper provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of non-coding RNAs in autophagy and osteoarthritis.

## Key findings

- Non-coding RNAs influence autophagy in chondrocytes through post-transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms.
- There is a crucial interplay between non-coding RNAs, autophagy, and osteoarthritis pathogenesis.
- Understanding these mechanisms could lead to novel therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis.

## Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic degenerative joint disease, arises from a confluence of factors including aging, mechanical injury, and obesity. Autophagy, a fundamental cellular process involving the degradation and recycling of cellular components, plays a critical role in chondrocyte homeostasis and survival under stress. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), a diverse class of RNA molecules with no protein-coding potential, exert significant influence on gene expression through post-transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms. Growing evidence suggests a crucial interplay between ncRNAs, autophagy, and OA pathogenesis. This review summarizes the multifaceted role of autophagy in OA chondrocytes and delves into the regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs on OA-associated autophagy, aiming to elucidate the intricate pathological network underlying OA development and identify novel therapeutic targets.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** Osteoarthritis (MONDO:0005178)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** OA (MESH:D010003), mechanical injury (MESH:D041781), obesity (MESH:D009765), degenerative joint disease (MESH:D019636)

## Figures

6 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12907332/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12907332