Sexual dimorphism of the synovial transcriptome underpins greater PTOA disease severity in male mice following joint injury

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease with sex-dependent prevalence and severity in both human and animal models. We sought to elucidate sex differences in synovitis, mechanical sensitization, structural damage, bone remodeling, and the synovial transcriptome in the anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACLR) mouse model of post-traumatic OA (PTOA). Male and female 12-week-old C57/BL6J mice were randomized to Sham or noninvasive ACLR with harvests at 7d or 28d post-ACLR. Ipsilateral (Sham, 7d or 28d ACLR) or contralateral knee synovium was dissected, then RNA was isolated from tissue for bulk RNA-sequencing and analysis.