Cellular and molecular changes in the human osteoarthritic and aging hip pulvinar
Authors' conclusion
These findings position the pulvinar ssAT as an active contributor to joint homeostasis and OA pathogenesis.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with and without hip osteoarthritis (OA), pulvinar sub-synovial adipose tissue (ssAT) samples
- Participants
- 21 / 59 / 28 / 27
- Exposure
- OA vs non-OA pulvinar ssAT across age groups
- Young without OAn = 21reference
- Adults without OAn = 59reference
- Young with OAn = 28
- Older with OAn = 27
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- OA samples displayed a marked increase in mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSPCs) vs age-matched controls, not observed with aging alone
- MSPC expansion correlated with upregulation of MSPC markers DPP4 and THY1
- Both OA and aging associated with immune remodelling: reduced innate immune signatures, enrichment of exhausted CD8⁺ T cells, upregulation of inflammatory (e.g., IL6, MME) and fibroblast activation genes (THY1, DPP4)
- Vascular remodelling further distinguished OA from aging; adipocyte innervation unchanged
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Cellular and molecular changes in the human osteoarthritic and aging hip pulvinar. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 6 January 2026. doi:10.
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