Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered as a degenerative disorder that affects millions of people across the world and impairs quality of life. Numerous risk factors include obesity, aging, joint overuse, trauma, systemic diseases and cytokine gene variants. Several consequences are reported during progression of the disease that includes degeneration of articular cartilage, joint space narrowing, subchondral bone remodelling and internal synovial inflammation which reduces joint function progressively as a person gets older. One of the key cytokine is IL-1, involved in pathogenesis of OA. Genetic variants of IL-1 have been recognised as catabolic mediators that cause disorganization of joint homeostasis. Previous studies have revealed the association of IL-1 gene polymorphism with OA, in particular IL-1α (-889), IL-1β (+3953), IL-1β (-511) andIL1RN (VNTR).This study explores different gene variants of IL-1 associated with OA and the understanding about future potential therapies to overcome the effect of cartilage destruction caused.
