Reply to Non-coding RNAs, osteoarthritis and the microbiome: new therapeutic targets?

We appreciate the interest of Sirufo et al. in our manuscript describing the association between gut microbiota and symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (SHOA) (1). Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder. Individuals with hand OA often reported pain symptom and functional limitation, including difficulty in undertaking daily activities. To date, few risk factors have been identified for hand OA and there is no effective treatment that can halt the disease progression. The common management of hand OA is to control pain and improve function.