The Notch signaling pathway in regulating bone and cartilage homeostasis: novel insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutics of osteoarthritis

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disorder characterized by cartilage degradation, bone hyperplasia, and synovitis. It is a primary cause of joint pain and dysfunction globally. The increasing incidence of OA, driven by an aging population, profoundly impairs patients' quality of life while imposing a growing economic burden on societies and families. Thus, in-depth investigations into the pathogenesis of OA, along with the exploration of novel therapeutic targets and strategies, hold significant clinical implications and social value. The Notch signaling pathway, a highly conserved intercellular communication pathway, plays a pivotal regulatory role in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and organogenesis. In recent years, a growing body of research has revealed that the Notch signaling pathway is crucial for maintaining bone and cartilage homeostasis, with its aberrant activation or inhibition being closely linked to the initiation and progression of OA. Therefore, this narrative review performed an extensive PubMed database search using keywords like "Notch", "osteoarthritis", "bone", "cartilage", "synovitis", "osteoblasts", "osteoclasts", and "chondrocytes", and reviewed all pertinent literature. It specifically focuses on the role of Notch signaling in the differentiation and function of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and chondrocytes, shedding lig

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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