BACKGROUND:Osteoarthritis is now considered a metabolic disease.Previous studies have shown that glycolysis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis.Compound 3k,as a novel small molecule inhibitor of glycolysis,has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects.Therefore,it can target glycolysis and is expected to provide new ideas for the treatment of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of Compound 3k in osteoarthritis caused by glycolytic overactivity based on the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha(HIF-1α)/reactive oxygen species(ROS)pathway. METHODS:ATDC5 chondroblasts at logarithmic growth phase were taken to induce osteoarthritis in an in vitro cellular model by the action of 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β for 24 hours.The cytotoxicity of Compound 3k at different concentrations(0.25,0.5,1,2.5,5,10,15 &mu;mol/L)was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay,and the appropriate concentrations were selected for the subsequent experiments.The chondrocytes were randomly divided into control,model and treatment groups.The model group was induced with 10 ng/mL interleukin 1β,and the treatment group was pre-stimulated with Compound 3k for 2 hours and then co-cultured with interleukin 1β.The proliferation of the cells in each group was detected by the cell counting kit-8 assay;the inflammatory level of the cells in each group was detected by the ELISA kit;the ROS,extracellular lactate and glucose contents were detected using the kit;qRT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the levels of related inflammatory factors,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α,glycolysis-related genes glucose transporter protein-1,glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase,monocarboxylate transporter protein-1 and HIF-1α. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the model group showed a decrease in cell proliferative activity,active glycolysis level,manifested by an increase in extracellular lactate content(P<0.001)and a decrease in glucose content(P<0.001),interleukin-6(P<0.000 1)and tumor necrosis factor-α(P<0.001).The expression levels of glycolysis-related genes glucose transporter protein-1(P<0.001),glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase(P<0.001),monocarboxylic acid transporter protein-1(P<0.001)and HIF-1α(P<0.001)in the model group were all up-regulated,accompanied by oxidative stress and overproduction of ROS.Compared with the model group,Compound 3k treatment effectively increased cell proliferation activity and inhibited the level of overactive glycolysis(P<0.001),while suppressing the expression of genes related to inflammation(P<0.001)and glycolysis in osteoarthritic chondrocytes,inhibiting oxidative stress,downregulating the expression level of HIF-1α(P<0.000 1)and decreasing the content of ROS.To conclude,Compound 3k inhibits interleukin-1β induced chondrocyte inflammation,and its mechanism may be related to glycolysis and HIF-1α/ROS mediated oxidative stress.