Nrf2 participates in progression of osteoarthritis through modulating redox balance

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases associated with aging, obesity and joint trauma, and is always associated with pain, joint deformity and dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that OA is closely related to oxidative stress, which serves as a major cause of chronic inflammation in cartilage, leading to irreversible structural changes in the joint. As a transcription factor, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays an important role in the antioxidant system, which regulates the expression of cytoprotective genes to facilitate the elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this review, we have summarized the dramatic function of oxidative stress in OA pathology, established a complex regulatory network of Nrf2 in OA progression, and aimed to provide new insights into the treatment of OA.
Keywords: Osteoarthritis, nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor, oxidative stress, redox balance, chondrocyte