INHIBITION OF EZH2 SLOWS THE PROGRESSION OF OSTEOARTHRITIS BY REDUCING INFLAMMATION, CATABOLISM AND HYPERTROPHY IN CHONDROCYTES, AND IMPROVES MOTOR FUNCTIONS OF OA MICE

Abstract

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that epigenetics play a major role in joint cells and during OA development. For instance, the expression of Enhancer of Zest Homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone methyltransferase which adds a methyl group (-CH3) on the lysine 27 of the histone 3 (H3K27), is upregulated in cartilage from OA patients, and its inhibition reduces chondrocyte hypertrophy, suggesting that EZH2 inhibition may reduce OA progression. However, a recent study showed that, at contrary, conditional knockout of EZH2 aggravates osteoarthritis development.