Borderline acceleration in blood epigenetic age of unclear biological importance in knee osteoarthritis progression: Specimens and data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative and Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project
Authors' conclusion
No meaningful difference in epigenetic age was seen among radiographic OA using 5 of 7 aging calculators, with minimal and likely not-clinically-relevant epigenetic age acceleration using the SkinBlood and PhenoAge calculators.
Study context
- Population
- Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) patients from the Osteoarthritis Initiative and Johnston County Osteoarthritis ProjectOAI n = 554 · Osteoarthritis Initiative 554 · Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project 128
- Comparison
- OA progressors vs non-progressors
- Outcome
- Epigenetic age acceleration (peripheral blood) among OA progressor subgroups vs non-progressors
Methodological detailsgenome-wide blood DNA methylation (Illumina MethylationEPICv1), 7 epigenetic age calculators, progressors vs non-progressors
- Genome-wide blood DNA methylation (Illumina MethylationEPICv1)
- 7 epigenetic age calculators
- Progressors vs non-progressors
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Epigenetic age acceleration, SkinBlood calculator
ΔEAA
1.5 years
q = 0.02
Radiographic progressors
ΔEAA
1.2 y
q = 0.05
Dual progressors
ΔEAA
1.1 y
q = 0.02
Any progressor
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Radiographic progressors | Pain progressors | Dual progressors | Any progressor | ΔEAA (y) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epigenetic age acceleration, PhenoAge calculatorRadiographic progressors vs Non-progressors | 2.1 | q = 0.02 | ||||
| Imputed age protein-based models, discrimination of progression | ||||||
| AUC | 0.63 | 0.54 | 0.52 | 0.57 |
- Imputed age protein-based models, discrimination of progression: marginal performance for radiographic progression; poor for other progressor types
Imputed age protein-based models, discrimination of progression
- Proteins chosen most frequently had prior links to OA (GDF8, MATN3, IL-18)
Original publication
Borderline acceleration in blood epigenetic age of unclear biological importance in knee osteoarthritis progression: Specimens and data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative and Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 4 June 2025. doi:10.
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