Han Juanjuan, Meng Xin, Kong Hui, Li Xinran, Chen Peijie, Zhang Xin-An
College of Exercise and Health, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, 110100, China.
School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, 200438, China.
Stem Cell Res Ther. 2025 May 19;16(1):251. doi: 10.1186/s13287-025-04386-3.
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.
短链脂肪酸（SCFAs）是肠道中膳食纤维微生物发酵产生的主要代谢产物，在保护肠道健康方面发挥着关键作用。越来越多的证据表明，SCFAs可通过血液循环对肠道以外的远处组织和器官产生影响。骨关节炎（OA）是一种慢性炎症性关节疾病，严重损害身体功能和生活质量。然而，OA的有效临床治疗方法仍然难以捉摸。最近的研究表明，SCFAs可对OA受损关节产生有益影响。SCFAs可通过维持肠道屏障功能以及保持软骨和软骨下骨的完整性来减轻OA的进展，这表明它们具有成为OA辅助治疗策略的巨大潜力。这篇综述描述了人体中的SCFAs及其细胞信号传导机制，并总结了SCFAs（尤其是丁酸、丙酸和乙酸）通过调节肠-关节轴对OA预防和治疗的多种作用，为其有前景的临床应用提供了新的见解。
