Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (1): 185-192.doi: 10.12307/2025.002

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Regulating ferroptosis of osteoblasts by traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head

Zhang Mianyu1, Han Jie2, Zeng Hao1, Chen Xiangshan1, Gao Zhengang1   

  1. 1Graduate College, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 2Ruikang Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2023-11-07 Accepted:2023-12-28 Online:2025-01-08 Published:2024-05-20
  • Contact: Han Jie, Master, Chief physician, Ruikang Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530011, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Zhang Mianyu, Master candidate, Graduate College, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82260858 (to HJ); Guangxi Education Department Youth Teacher Research Ability Enhancement Project, No. 2021KY0290; Three-Year Action Plan for Construction of High-Level Talent Team at Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine: Construction Project of Research Center for Academic Thought and Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Inheritance and Development of Chinese Medicine Master Wei Guikang, No. 2022V001; Training Project for Young Qihuang Scholars in Guangxi in 2022, No. [2022]13 (to HJ)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Some studies have found that ferroptosis of osteoblasts can be an important mechanism to induce the occurrence and development of hormone-induced femoral head necrosis. With the development of Chinese medicine, some scholars have found that some Chinese medicine monomer, Chinese medicine compound and Chinese patent medicine can regulate the ferroptosis of osteoblasts through various pathway mechanisms, and finally play a role in the treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head.  
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between ferroptosis and steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head and the mechanism of Chinese medicine regulating ferroptosis of osteoblasts in the treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head, so as to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head. 
METHODS: With “ferroptosis, steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head, osteoblast, Chinese herbal medicine, glucocorticoid, iron metabolism, reactive oxygen species, glutathione peroxidase” as Chinese search terms, and “ferroptosis, hormonal necrosis of the femoral head, osteoblast, Chinese herbal medicine, glucocorticoid, iron metabolism, ROS, GPX4” as English search terms, the search was conducted on CNKI, PubMed, WanFang, VIP and other databases. The relevant articles on osteoblast ferroptosis and steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head and the regulation of Chinese herbal medicine intervention from the establishment of each database to 2023 were screened. Finally, 76 articles were systematically analyzed. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Ferroptosis of osteoblasts plays an important role in the pathogenesis of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head. (2) The occurrence of ferroptosis in osteoblasts is regulated by a variety of mechanisms, such as intracellular iron overload causing ferroptosis. Lipid peroxidation damages cell membrane and causes ferroptosis. Cystine/glutamate reverse transporter induced ferroptosis by influencing glutathione level and glutathione peroxidase 4 activity. Fenton reaction in the cell produces a large number of reactive oxygen species and causes ferroptosis. (3) Chinese medicine monomer icariin, Chinese medicine compound Qinge pills and Chinese patent medicine Bushen Huoxue granules can regulate the occurrence of osteoblast ferroptosis, and help to prevent and treat steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head. (4) The mechanism of ferroptosis in osteoblasts is still unclear. Further investigation on the mechanism of action of both is expected to provide a new choice for clinical treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head.  

Key words: avascular necrosis of femoral head, ferroptosis, traditional Chinese medicine, osteoblast, glucocorticoid, iron metabolism, reactive oxygen species, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, lipid peroxidation

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