Adipokine Dynamics in Osteoarthritis Pathophysiology
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder characterised by articular cartilage breakdown, subchondral bone remodelling and synovial inflammation. Adipokines, hormone-like mediators secreted by adipose tissue, have emerged as key players linking metabolic alterations to joint degeneration. Systemic and intra-articular sources, notably the infrapatellar fat pad, release leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin, which modulate chondrocyte phenotype, extracellular matrix turnover and inflammatory cascades. Leptin drives pro-inflammatory mediator synthesis via signalling pathways such as JAK-STAT and MAPK, promoting production of nitric oxide, interleukin 6 and matrix metalloproteinases. Adiponectin exerts dual roles in cartilage homeostasis, engaging AMPK and MAPK pathways to regulate anabolic–catabolic balance. Resistin and visfatin further potentiate synovitis and subchondral bone sclerosis through NF-κB activation. Crosstalk between adipokines and classical pro-inflammatory cytokines amplifies joint tissue catabolism, while mechanical overload due to obesity exacerbates these biochemical effects. Understanding adipokine dynamics unveils novel biomarkers for disease progression and identifies metabolic signalling nodes as therapeutic targets, carrying global significance for an ageing, obese population at rising risk of OA.
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Adipokine Dynamics in Osteoarthritis Pathophysiology publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in adipokine dynamics in osteoarthritis pathophysiology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adipokine: A bioactive mediator secreted by adipose tissue that regulates metabolism and inflammation.
Chondrocyte: A specialised cell responsible for maintaining cartilage extracellular matrix.
Extracellular matrix (ECM): The non-cellular network of collagen, proteoglycans and glycoproteins that provides structural support in tissues.
Infrapatellar fat pad: A local adipose depot within the knee joint that produces adipokines.
Subchondral bone: The bone layer directly beneath articular cartilage, involved in joint support and load transmission.
Synovitis: Inflammation of the synovial membrane leading to joint swelling and pain.
References
- Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying obesity in degenerative spine and joint diseases. Bone Research (2024).
- Novel perspectives on leptin in osteoarthritis: Focus on aging. Genes & Diseases (2023).
- Adipokine Contribution to the Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis. Mediators of Inflammation (2017).
- Expression and function of visfatin (Nampt), an adipokine-enzyme involved in inflammatory pathways of osteoarthritis. Arthritis Research & Therapy (2014).
- The Adipokine Network in Rheumatic Joint Diseases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2019).
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