Exploring the mechanism of Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction on improving cartilage damage in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis via ACSL4-mediated ferroptosis pathway

doi:10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2026.2.09

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Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2026, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (2) : 182-188. DOI: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2026.2.09

Exploring the mechanism of Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction on improving cartilage damage in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis via ACSL4-mediated ferroptosis pathway

Feng Lina¹, Yan Liang²*, Wang Shangzeng³, Xue Shuina³

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction on cartilage injury and the long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 4 (ACSL4) pathway in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods Rabbits were randomly divided into the normal, the KOA, the low-dose and high-dose Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction, the celecoxib, and the high-dose Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction + rosiglitazone groups, with 12 rabbits in each group. The levels of serum interleukin (IL) -18, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α) were monitored; The pathology of articular cartilage was detected by safranin O-green staining. The mitochondrial structure of articular cartilage was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Prussian blue staining was used to detect iron deposition in articular cartilage. The levels of Fe2+, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) in articular cartilage, as well as glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), plasma vector family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and ACSL4 proteins were analyzed respectively. Results Compared with KOA group, the pathological and mitochondrial damage of articular cartilage tissue in the low-dose and high-dose Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction groups and cecoxib group were alleviated, iron deposition reduced, the levels of serum IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α decreased, and the levels of Fe2+ and MDA, the average fluorescence intensity of ROS, and the ACSL4 protein in articular cartilage tissue decreased. The levels of GSH and the proteins of GPX4 and SLC7A11 increased (P<0.05); Rosiglitazone reversed the inhibitory effect of high-dose Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction on ferroptosis in KOA rabbits. Conclusions Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction may inhibit ferroptosis in KOA rabbits by suppressing the ACSL4 pathway, thereby regulating articular cartilage injury.

Key words

Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction / / / Knee osteoarthritis / / / Ferroptosis / / / Oxidative stress / Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4

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Feng Lina, Yan Liang, Wang Shangzeng, Xue Shuina. Exploring the mechanism of Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction on improving cartilage damage in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis via ACSL4-mediated ferroptosis pathway[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy. 2026, 44(2): 182-188 https://doi.org/10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2026.2.09

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