Next, by further analysis of ten hub genes (MYC, JUN, DUSP1, NFKBIA, VEGFA, ATF3, IL-6, PTGS2, IL1B and SOCS3), we discovered that MYC, JUN, DUSP1 and NFKBIA were specifically expressed in the immune system and selected as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in osteoarthritis. Here, ATF3 is linked to osteoarthritis.