Spatial Multi-Omics Advances in Osteoarthritis: From Molecular Landscapes to Precision Medicine
1 Department of Regenerative Medicine, Agathisha Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (AISRM), 600030 Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, 600077 Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
3 Department of Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Research Group, 641045 Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
4 Department of Orthopaedics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER)-KARAIKAL, 609602 Puducherry, Puducherry, India
5 Central Research Laboratory, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, 631552 Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
6 Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41944 Daegu, Republic of Korea
7 Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 41944 Daegu, Republic of Korea
8 BK21 FOUR KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 41944 Daegu, Republic of Korea
9 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, 41944 Daegu, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a pervasive, multifactorial joint disorder with an escalating global prevalence, yet it remains without effective disease-modifying therapies. Current research and clinical management are hindered by a reliance on traditional bulk-omics and imaging modalities that fail to capture the profound molecular and cellular heterogeneity of the disease. While bulk-omics provides a comprehensive but averaged view, it homogenizes complex tissue microenvironments, losing critical information about cell-cell interactions and niche-specific pathogenic pathways. This review posits that the emerging field of spatial multi-omics represents a paradigm shift, transcending the limitations of previous approaches by integrating molecular profiling with native tissue context. By simultaneously mapping the transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and other molecular layers in a spatially resolved manner, this framework can deconstruct the intricate cellular architecture of the osteoarthritic joint. This capability offers unprecedented opportunities for precision diagnostics, enabling the discovery of novel biomarkers and the molecularly precise definition of disease endotypes. The capacity to pinpoint microenvironment-specific pathways also provides a powerful foundation for the development of personalized, next-generation therapeutics that target the root cause of disease, not just its symptoms. The analysis presented here delineates the technologies, applications, and challenges of this transformative field, underscoring its potential to revolutionize OA research and pave the way for a new era of precision care.
Graphical Abstract

Keywords
- Osteoarthritis
- precision medicine
- multi-omics
- biomarkers
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