Links between short-chain fatty acids and osteoarthritis from pathology to clinic via gut-joint axis
Abstract Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the primary metabolites produced by the microbial fermentation of dietary fibers in the gut, have a key role in protecting gut health. Increasing evidence indicates SCFAs can exert effects on distant tissues and organs beyond the gut via blood circulation. O...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Stem Cell Research & Therapy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04386-3 |
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| author | Juanjuan Han Xin Meng Hui Kong Xinran Li Peijie Chen Xin-an Zhang |
| author_facet | Juanjuan Han Xin Meng Hui Kong Xinran Li Peijie Chen Xin-an Zhang |
| author_sort | Juanjuan Han |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the primary metabolites produced by the microbial fermentation of dietary fibers in the gut, have a key role in protecting gut health. Increasing evidence indicates SCFAs can exert effects on distant tissues and organs beyond the gut via blood circulation. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease that severely diminishes the physical function and quality of life. However, effective clinical treatments for OA remain elusive. Recent studies have shown that SCFAs can exert beneficial effects on damaged joints in OA. SCFAs can mitigate OA progression by preserving intestinal barrier function and maintaining the integrity of cartilage and subchondral bone, suggesting that they have substantial potential to be the adjunctive treatment strategy for OA. This review described the SCFAs in the human body and their cellular signaling mechanism, and summarized the multiple effects of SCFAs (especially butyrate, propionate, and acetate) on the prevention and treatment of OA by regulating the gut-joint axis, providing novel insights into their promising clinical applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-60780360f45644dcb57a057c00e8bc5b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1757-6512 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Stem Cell Research & Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-60780360f45644dcb57a057c00e8bc5b2025-08-20T03:08:40ZengBMCStem Cell Research & Therapy1757-65122025-05-0116112010.1186/s13287-025-04386-3Links between short-chain fatty acids and osteoarthritis from pathology to clinic via gut-joint axisJuanjuan Han0Xin Meng1Hui Kong2Xinran Li3Peijie Chen4Xin-an Zhang5College of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport UniversityCollege of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport UniversityCollege of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport UniversityCollege of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport UniversitySchool of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of SportCollege of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport UniversityAbstract Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the primary metabolites produced by the microbial fermentation of dietary fibers in the gut, have a key role in protecting gut health. Increasing evidence indicates SCFAs can exert effects on distant tissues and organs beyond the gut via blood circulation. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease that severely diminishes the physical function and quality of life. However, effective clinical treatments for OA remain elusive. Recent studies have shown that SCFAs can exert beneficial effects on damaged joints in OA. SCFAs can mitigate OA progression by preserving intestinal barrier function and maintaining the integrity of cartilage and subchondral bone, suggesting that they have substantial potential to be the adjunctive treatment strategy for OA. This review described the SCFAs in the human body and their cellular signaling mechanism, and summarized the multiple effects of SCFAs (especially butyrate, propionate, and acetate) on the prevention and treatment of OA by regulating the gut-joint axis, providing novel insights into their promising clinical applications.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04386-3Short-chain fatty acidsOsteoarthritisGut-Joint AxisButyrateDietary fibersProbiotics and prebiotics |
| spellingShingle | Juanjuan Han Xin Meng Hui Kong Xinran Li Peijie Chen Xin-an Zhang Links between short-chain fatty acids and osteoarthritis from pathology to clinic via gut-joint axis Stem Cell Research & Therapy Short-chain fatty acids Osteoarthritis Gut-Joint Axis Butyrate Dietary fibers Probiotics and prebiotics |
| title | Links between short-chain fatty acids and osteoarthritis from pathology to clinic via gut-joint axis |
| title_full | Links between short-chain fatty acids and osteoarthritis from pathology to clinic via gut-joint axis |
| title_fullStr | Links between short-chain fatty acids and osteoarthritis from pathology to clinic via gut-joint axis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Links between short-chain fatty acids and osteoarthritis from pathology to clinic via gut-joint axis |
| title_short | Links between short-chain fatty acids and osteoarthritis from pathology to clinic via gut-joint axis |
| title_sort | links between short chain fatty acids and osteoarthritis from pathology to clinic via gut joint axis |
| topic | Short-chain fatty acids Osteoarthritis Gut-Joint Axis Butyrate Dietary fibers Probiotics and prebiotics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04386-3 |
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