Loss of connexin 43 in cartilage causes mitochondrial dysfunction and accelerates post-traumatic osteoarthritis progression

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of chronic pain and disability worldwide, characterized by progressive degeneration of cartilage and subchondral bone. Post-traumatic OA (PTOA) develops in as many as 25-50% of individuals following major joint injury, making it a leading cause of OA in younger and otherwise healthy populations.1,2 Connexin 43 (Cx43), a gap junction protein involved in intercellular communication and cellular stress responses, has been linked to OA; however, its role in the progression of PTOA remains unclear. Here, we examined how cartilage-specific loss of Cx43 influences PTOA and chondrocyte metabolic function. Using a murine model of conditional Cx43 deletion in cartilage, we demonstrate that male knockout mice exhibited severe cartilage surface damage and matrix loss, whereas female knockout mice showed cartilage thinning accompanied by reduced chondrocyte hypertrophy, decreased subchondral bone density, and increased osteophyte formation. Thus, loss of Cx43 disrupts cartilage integrity and osteochondral remodeling in a sex-specific manner, predisposing joints to maladaptive bone changes and cartilage degeneration. Complementary mechanistic studies in human articular chondrocytes revealed that Cx43 deficiency impairs mitochondrial respiration, reduces spare respiratory capacity, and lowers ATP production, consistent with compromised cellular bioenergetics. Together, these findings identify Cx43 as an important coordinator of metabolic and structural responses to joint injury. These results position Cx43 as a context-dependent regulator of joint homeostasis and suggest that maintenance of Cx43 expression may support cartilage resilience following injury.