Nature子刊：我国学者开发新型环状RNA疗法，缓解骨关节炎

Core Insights - The article discusses the potential of circular RNA (circRNA) as a next-generation RNA therapy platform, highlighting its advantages over traditional mRNA therapies, particularly in stability, immunogenicity, and safety [2][4]. Group 1: CircRNA Advantages - CircRNA exhibits superior stability, immunogenicity, and safety compared to chemically modified mRNA and viral vector-based therapies [2]. - CircRNA can utilize internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequences, eliminating the need for expensive 5' cap modifications and resulting in lower immunogenicity without chemical modifications [2]. Group 2: Research Findings - A study published in Nature Communications demonstrates that circRNA-based protein replacement therapy can alleviate osteoarthritis in male mice [3][4]. - Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by cartilage degradation and bone spur formation, with recent research indicating that the expression of Na v 1.7 in chondrocytes leads to cartilage degeneration and pain [6]. Group 3: Mechanism and Treatment Strategy - The study identifies that the downregulation of the RNA-binding protein Musashi2 (MSI2) in chondrocytes is a key factor in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis [7]. - A local delivery strategy was developed to achieve high and sustained protein expression in chondrocytes, demonstrating that injecting ivcRNA encoding MSI2 effectively slows the progression of osteoarthritis in a mouse model [7][9].