{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,26]],"date-time":"2026-10-26T17:32:19Z","timestamp":1793035939155,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":98,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"16","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,15]],"date-time":"2025-08-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755216000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["82272538"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["82272538"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["82472482"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["82472482"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial joint disease traditionally characterized by cartilage degradation, while growing evidence underscores the critical role of synovial fibrosis in driving disease progression. The synovium exhibits pathological remodeling in OA, primarily due to the phenotypic transition of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) into myofibroblasts. This fibroblast\u2013myofibroblast transition (FMT) results in excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and increased tissue stiffness and contractility, collectively contributing to chronic inflammation and fibrotic stiffening of the joint capsule. These fibrotic changes not only impair synovial function but also exacerbate cartilage degeneration, nociceptive sensitization, and joint dysfunction, thereby amplifying OA severity. Focusing on the frequently overlooked role of the FMT of synovial fibroblasts in OA, this review introduces the biological characteristics of FLSs and myofibroblasts and systematically examines the key molecular pathways implicated in OA-related FMT, including TGF-\u03b2, Wnt\/\u03b2-catenin, YAP\/TAZ, and inflammatory signaling cascades. It also discusses emerging therapeutic strategies targeting synovial fibrosis and FMT and considers their implications for the clinical management of OA. By highlighting recent advances and unresolved challenges, this review provides critical insights into the fibroblast\u2013myofibroblast axis as a central contributor to OA progression and a promising therapeutic target for modifying disease trajectory.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26167881","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,15]],"date-time":"2025-08-15T10:33:42Z","timestamp":1755254022000},"page":"7881","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["Fibroblast\u2013Myofibroblast Transition in Osteoarthritis Progression: Current Insights"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"Ruixin","family":"Peng","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Arthritis Clinical and Research Center, Peking University People\u2019s Hospital, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qiyuan","family":"Lin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Arthritis Clinical and Research Center, Peking University People\u2019s Hospital, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2267-4589","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zhen","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Arthritis Clinical and Research Center, Peking University People\u2019s Hospital, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hui","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Arthritis Clinical and Research Center, Peking University People\u2019s Hospital, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3584-6765","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jiao Jiao","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6966-3134","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dan","family":"Xing","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Arthritis Clinical and Research Center, Peking University People\u2019s Hospital, No. 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1397","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joca.2024.07.014","article-title":"Osteoarthritis year in review 2024: Epidemiology and therapy","volume":"32","author":"Courties","year":"2024","journal-title":"Osteoarthr. 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