Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (29): 7619-7631.doi: 10.12307/2026.398

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A new strategy for preventing and treating orthopedic diseases by regulating ferroptosis through signaling pathways

He Long1, Gao Shuang1, Chen Chao2, Qin Guozhong1, Ran Qingsen1, Wang Zhengchun1, Yang Yafeng1, Ren Hang1, Qiu Yunkai1, Yang Yang1, Li Wei1   

  1. 1Shenzhen Pingle Orthopaedic Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, China; 2Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2025-08-08 Revised:2025-10-18 Online:2026-10-18 Published:2026-03-05
  • Contact: Li Wei, MS, Associate chief physician, Shenzhen Pingle Orthopaedic Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, China
  • About author:He Long, MS, Shenzhen Pingle Orthopaedic Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Project of Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 20241199 (to CC); Shenzhen Medical "Sanming Projects," No. SZZYSM202108013 (to LW)

Abstract: ACKGROUND: Experiments have confirmed that ferroptosis is closely associated with a variety of orthopedic diseases. However, the specific mechanisms by which the regulation of ferroptosis leads to orthopedic diseases remain unclear. Current evidence suggests that signaling pathways may be an important approach for regulating the occurrence of ferroptosis.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the relevant signaling pathways involved in the regulation of ferroptosis in orthopedic diseases (osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury, osteoporosis, intervertebral disc degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, osteosarcoma, steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head), to describe the key regulators of the ferroptosis pathway in orthopedic diseases through the modulation of the conduction of signaling pathways, and to conduct an in-depth study on the regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis in orthopedic diseases and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of such diseases.
METHODS: Databases including PubMed, Elsevier, Web of Science, and CNKI were searched for relevant literatures on ferroptosis and related orthopedic diseases from the establishment of these databases up to February 2025. The search terms were "ferroptosis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, spinal cord injury, intervertebral disc degeneration, osteosarcomas, rheumatoid arthritis, steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head" in English and Chinese. Finally, 138 articles were included for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Under the regulation of multiple signaling pathways, the accumulation of substances such as intracellular iron ions and reactive oxygen species can be induced, leading to ferroptosis in osteoblasts, chondrocytes, osteosarcoma cells, etc., which results in changes in the microenvironment and subsequently promotes or inhibits the occurrence of related orthopedic diseases. Research has confirmed that it is of great significance to clarify the mechanisms by which signaling pathways regulate ferroptosis in orthopedic diseases. However, currently, the interaction mechanisms among signaling pathways, ferroptosis, and orthopedic diseases are still in the preliminary stage, and more in-depth research is needed to provide more strategies for the treatment of orthopedic diseases.


Key words: ferroptosis, signaling pathway, osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury, osteoporosis, intervertebral disc degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, osteosarcoma, steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head

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