Circular RNA mmu_circ_0001598 Contributes to IL-1β-Induced Osteoarthritis Progression by Regulating miR-127-3p.

Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration, is a leading cause of disability and pain worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicates that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a critical role in various diseases, but the function of circRNAs in OA remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that circ_0001598 was significantly upregulated in chondrocytes treated with IL-1β and in cartilage tissue from mice with severed anterior cruciate ligament surgery (ACLT) induced OA models. Interference with circ_0001598 in vitro restored IL-1β-induced chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis. Silencing circ_0001598 significantly alleviated ACLT-induced OA in mice. Mechanistically, knockdown of circ_0001598 affected chondrocyte proliferation, apoptosis, and matrix degradation by regulating miR-127-3p. Taken together, our results demonstrate the fundamental role of circ_0001598 and provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.