Mitochondria are not only the main energy generators of the cell, but also mediate several critical biochemical processes such as apoptosis, proliferation and redox homeostasis. As such, mitochondrial dysfunctions can lead to a wide variety of human diseases, including cancer and osteoarthritis (OA). In OA, mitochondrial-associated signaling has been implicated in the molecular events leading to cartilage degradation, including oxidative stress, defective chondrocyte biosynthesis and growth responses, increased cytokine-induced chondrocyte inflammation and matrix catabolism, cartilage matrix calcification and increased chondrocyte apoptosis. Thus, the mitochondrial genome represents an attractive target for molecular therapy and OA research has focused on determining its role in chondrocyte metabolism and subsequent cartilage degradation. In this study, we analyzed the mitochondrial gene expression changes that characterize chondrocytes in OA using the Human Mitochondria RT² Profiler™ PCR Array. Twenty-six differentially expressed genes were identified that discriminated chondrocytes in OA from those in normal cartilage, including 17 upregulated and 9 downregulated genes. These genes represent diverse functional categories, including mitochondrial membrane polarization and potential, mitochondrial transport, small molecule transport, targeting proteins to the mitochondria, mitochondrial protein import, outer and inner membrane translocation, mitochondrial fission and fusion, mitochondrial localization and apoptosis. Western blot analysis confirmed that the p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA; encoded by the BB3 gene) was significantly upregulated in OA cartilage. In conclusion, our study generates a differential mitochondrial gene expression profile for chondrocytes in OA and demonstrates that mitochondrial genome dysregulation occurs in cartilage cells during OA. Finally, our results indicate that PUMA may be a new diagnostic and therapeutic target for OA.

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