Effect and mechanism of isoliquiritigenin on ferroptosis of chondrocytes in rats with knee osteoarthritis
10.3760/cma.j.cn121113-20240910-00496
- VernacularTitle:异甘草素对膝关节骨关节炎大鼠软骨细胞铁死亡的影响及其作用机制
- Author:
Shilin CHEN
1
;
Wenheng CHEN
1
;
Guanghui WANG
1
;
Shan GAO
1
Author Information
1. 驻马店市中心医院关节外科，驻马店 463000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Isoliquiritigenin;
Osteoarthritis, knee;
Chondrocytes;
Ferroptosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics
2025;45(4):230-240
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) on chondrocyte ferroptosis in a rat model of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham group, KOA group, celecoxib group, ISL low-dose group, and ISL high-dose group. Except for the sham group, KOA models were induced in the other groups using the modified Hulth method. The ISL low-dose and high-dose groups received intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg ISL, respectively; the celecoxib group was orally administered 24 mg/kg celecoxib; the sham and KOA groups received equivalent doses of saline via intraperitoneal injection. Interventions were administered once daily for 8 weeks. Behavioral changes in the open field test, histopathological observations of cartilage, inflammatory cytokine detection, ferroptosis-related indicators, and Sirt1/Nrf2/GPX4 pathway protein expression were measured to determine the optimal ISL dose. Another 60 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham, KOA, ISL high-dose, Sirt1 inhibitor (EX-527), and ISL high-dose + EX-527 groups. KOA models were established in all groups except the sham group. The ISL high-dose group received 40 mg/kg ISL, the EX-527 group received 10 mg/kg EX-527, and the combination group received both. The sham and KOA groups were given saline. Interventions lasted 8 weeks. Histopathological staining evaluated cartilage damage and scoring; ELISA measured tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 levels in synovial fluid; iron deposition, Fe 2+, malonaldehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) levels were assessed; Western blot analyzed Sirt1/Nrf2/GPX4 pathway proteins; immunohistochemistry detected Collagen II, Aggrecan, MMP-3, and MMP-13 expression. Results:The joint cartilage tissue damage in the ISL low-dose and high-dose rat groups was alleviated compared to the KOA group. The OARSI score, levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in joint fluid, iron deposition in cartilage tissue, Fe 2+, MDA and ROS levels were 8.33±1.86 and 4.50±1.52, respectively. 67.24±7.25 pg/ml, 42.06±5.12 pg/ml; 37.97±4.9 pg/ml, 23.75±4.12 pg/ml; 31.67±4.16 pg/ml, 20.91±3.28 pg/ml; 2.00±0.20, 1.53±0.14; 2.84±0.19 μmol/mg, 1.87±0.16 μmol/mg; 9.11±1.08 nmol/ml, 5.49±1.05 nmol/ml; 759.15±59.80 μmol/ml and 610.85±44.23 μmol/ml were lower than those in KOA group ( P<0.05), and the serum SOD and GSH contents were 12.12±1.52 U/ml and 16.79±2.14 U/ml, respectively. Compared with KOA group, the protein expressions of Sirt1, Nrf2, GPX4 and SLC7A11 were 0.70±0.11 and 0.96±0.13, 0.69±0.10 and 0.95±0.14, 0.51±0.06 and 0.87±0.12, 0.56±0.06 and 0.83±0.10, which were higher than those in KOA group ( P<0.05). The expressions of Acetyl-H4K16, ACSL4, MMP-3 and MMP-13 were 1.68±0.17 and 1.30±0.10, 1.39±0.12 and 0.97±0.10, 1.70±0.14 and 1.10±0.10, 1.64±0.15 and 1.28±0.10, which were lower than those of KOA group ( P<0.05). And the changes of these indexes were higher in Sirt1 inhibitor group. Compared with the ISL high-dose group, the ferroptosis-related indexes were significantly increased in the ISL high-dose+Sirt1 inhibitor group. Conclusion:ISL alleviates articular cartilage injury in KOA rats, and its mechanism is related to activating the Sirt1/Nrf2/GPX4 pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis.
