Thromboxane A2 and Osteoarthritis

TXA2 inhibits the expression of the primary marker of thermogenesis (UCP1) while prostacyclin (PGI2), another metabolite derived from arachidonic acid, enhances its expression. Given the close relationship between the adipocyte and the chondrocyte, the study team hypothesises that thromboxane A2 controls chondrocyte formation and function and thus cartilage homeostasis. The study objectives are: i) to analyse the role of TXA2 on chondrocyte differentiation in vitro, ii) to determine the association between circulating and tissue TXA2 levels in a rat model of osteoarthritis, and iii) to correlate circulating and synovial fluid levels of TXA2 with the development of osteoarthritis in a small human cohort. The proposed research aims to better understand the mechanisms underlying the role of lipid metabolites in chondrocyte formation and function, paving the way for the development of nutritional and pharmacological therapies to combat OA and associated metabolic disorders.