Zhuo Wang

Although physical activity is known to mitigate disease risks, its protective molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. E2F8, a regulator of cell cycle and metabolism, showed significant differential expression between osteoarthritis (OA) and exercise models, suggesting it may link mechanical activity to OA alleviation. In vitro, Interleukin‐1 Beta (IL‐1β) simulated inflammation. In vivo, OA was induced in rats via Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) injection. The effects of E2F8 and mechanical stress were assessed using moderate treadmill exercise, histology, and joint observation. Bioinformatic analysis, cyclic tensile strain, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and gene knockdown were used to investigate mechanisms. In OA rats, E2F8 was downregulated in cartilage while NLRP14 increased. Exercise reversed E2F8 downregulation, alleviated cartilage degeneration, restored anabolic activity, and reduced inflammatory catabolism linked to senescence. In vitro, mechanical stress reversed the IL‐1β‐induced anabolic/catabolic imbalance by regulating the E2F8/NLRP14, mitigating OA progression. Mechanical stress enhances E2F8 expression in osteoarthritic chondrocytes, which in turn protects cartilage by suppressing the expression of NLRP14. These findings underscore the role of E2F8 as a mechano‐sensitive mediator and highlight the potential of exercise or exercise‐mimetic therapies as effective strategies for preventing and treating OA.

Musculoskeletal degenerative diseases significantly compromise patient quality of life through muscle loss, bone fragility, and cartilage degeneration. Given the established link between vascular aging and musculoskeletal disorders, the vascular‐skeletomuscular axis represents a complex network wherein conditions interact via mechanisms including impaired blood flow, inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormonal imbalances. As pharmacological interventions targeting lysosomal cathepsins face developmental and application challenges, exploring non‐pharmacological alternatives becomes imperative. This review investigates the regulatory roles of the lysosomal cathepsin family, especially cathepsins B, K, and L, in musculoskeletal degenerative diseases and evaluates how exercise interventions modulate their activities. It proposes exercise as a viable non‐pharmacological strategy to selectively influence lysosomal cathepsin functions, thereby offering therapeutic potential in managing vascular‐musculoskeletal degenerative diseases. The review elucidates several key concepts: the intricate interaction between vascular aging and musculoskeletal degenerative pathologies; the pivotal roles of lysosomal cathepsins in disease progression through metabolic regulation, inflammatory modulation, macrophage polarization, and autophagy dysfunction; and the multifaceted mechanisms by which exercise influences cathepsin activity, including calcium homeostasis, cellular energy metabolism enhancement, inflammatory response reduction, autophagy stimulation, myokine secretion, and vascular function improvement. This comprehensive analysis provides novel insights into exercise as a selective modulator of lysosomal cathepsin activity, highlighting its significant potential for advancing diagnostic and clinical therapeutic approaches.

Botanical drugs and probiotic supplements present safer alternative options for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis (OP). However, pathological disorders of the gut microbiota and the specific properties of probiotics and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) significantly limit their therapeutic efficacy. Given the favorable synergistic and complementary effects between probiotics and herbal medicines, a creative combination of these approaches may address the issue of their current limited efficacy. A comprehensive analysis is necessary to provide a detailed review of their potential for combination, the mechanisms behind their synergy, scientific applications, and future developments. There exists a complex relationship between gut microbiota and OP, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms are multidimensional, involving the production of pro‐inflammatory metabolites, immune system disruption, and the impairment of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Furthermore, we analyzed the complex mechanisms and potential connections between probiotics, TCM, and their combined applications. We highlighted the principle of complementary gain and the substantial therapeutic potential of their organic combination, which facilitates the release of active substances in TCM, increases the bioavailability of TCM, enhances probiotic delivery efficiency, and exerts synergistic effects. The combined use of probiotics and TCM offers a safe and effective strategy for managing OP and presents an innovative and promising direction for the future development of modern phytomedicine.

As the worldwide population ages, osteoarthritis has significantly increased. This musculoskeletal condition has become a pressing global health issue and thus, prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis have become the primary focus of domestic and international research. Scholarly investigations of the molecular mechanisms that are related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis have shed light on the pathological causes of this condition to a certain extent, providing a foundation for its prevention and treatment. However, further research is necessary to fully understand the critical role of the transcription factor SOX9 in chondrocyte differentiation and the development of osteoarthritis. As a result, there has been widespread interest in SOX transcription factors. While SOX9 has been utilized as a biomarker to indicate the occurrence and prognosis of osteoarthritis, investigations into other members of the SOX family and the development of targeted treatments around SOX9 are still required. This article considers the impact of the SOX protein on the development and inhibition of osteoarthritis and highlights the need for therapeutic approaches targeting SOX9, as supported by existing research. SOX9 can contribute to the process of osteoarthritis through acetylation and ubiquitination modifications. The regulation of the WNT signalling pathway, Nrf2/ARE signalling pathway, NF-κB signalling pathway and SOX9 is implicated in the emergence of osteoarthritis. Non-coding RNA may play a role in the onset and progression of osteoarthritis by modulating various SOX family members, including SOX2, SOX4, SOX5, SOX6, SOX8, SOX9 and SOX11. SOX9 has the capability of mitigating the onset and progression of osteoarthritis through means such as medication therapy, stem cell therapy, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector therapy, physical therapy and other approaches.

Osteoporosis (ops) is a systemic degenerative bone disease characterized by bone mass reduction, bone mineral density loss, bone microstructure destruction, bone fragility, and increased fracture susceptibility. Thus far, drug therapy is the main method used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. However, long-term drug treatment will inevitably lead to drug resistance and certain side effects. In response, rehabilitation treatment is generally recommended, which involves drug supplementation combined with the treatment. A Chinese traditional fitness exercise is an organic combination of sports and traditional Chinese medicine with a series of advantages such as being safe, convenient, non-toxic, and harmless. Hence, it is one of the rehabilitation methods widely used in clinical practice. By searching the CNKI, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and other relevant databases, our research clarifies the current situation of four kinds of Chinese traditional fitness exercises widely used in clinical practice, namely, Taijiquan, Baduanjin, Wuqinxi, and Yijin Jing. In addition, the molecular mechanism of osteoporosis is summarized in this study. Based on the research, Chinese traditional fitness exercises are expected to directly stimulate the bone through a mechanical load to improve bone density. Moderate and regular traditional Chinese fitness exercises also improve osteoporosis by regulating the endocrine system with the secretion of hormones and factors such as estrogen and irisin, which are beneficial for bone formation. Finally, the purpose of promoting bone formation, reducing bone loss, and preventing and treating osteoporosis is achieved. The various means of Chinese traditional fitness exercises have different emphases, and the effect of improving bone density differs in various parts of the body. The exercisers may choose the exercise flexibly based on their own needs. Chinese traditional fitness exercises can improve the bone density of the exercisers and relieve pain, improve balance, and regulate the psychological state. Consequently, it is worth promoting to be applied in clinical practices.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative musculoskeletal disease characterized by pathological changes in joint structures along with the incidence of which increases with age. Exercise is recommended for all clinical treatment guidelines of osteoarthritis, but the exact molecular mechanisms are still unknown. Irisin is a newly discovered myokine released mainly by skeletal muscle in recent years—a biologically active protein capable of being released into the bloodstream as an endocrine factor, the synthesis and secretion of which is specifically induced by exercise-induced muscle contraction. Although the discovery of irisin is relatively recent, its role in affecting bone density and cartilage homeostasis has been reported. Here, we review the production and structural characteristics of irisin and discuss the effects of the different types of exercise involved in the current study on irisin and the role of irisin in anti-aging. In addition, the role of irisin in the regulation of bone mineral density, bone metabolism, and its role in chondrocyte homeostasis and metabolism is reviewed. A series of studies on irisin have provided new insights into the mechanisms of exercise training in improving bone density, resisting cartilage degeneration, and maintaining the overall environmental homeostasis of the joint. These studies further contribute to the understanding of the role of exercise in the fight against osteoarthritis and will provide an important reference and aid in the development of the field of osteoarthritis prevention and treatment.

Chemical composition, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties of Actinidia arguta essential oil (AEO) were evaluated. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis identified 56 chemical compounds, with the most abundant being Squalene (23.08%), γ-sitrostorol (8.10%), and β-Tocopherol (7.01%). Whereas the AEO had significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it showed mild efficacy against Bacillus subtilis and Microsporum canis. On the contrary, the Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were not susceptible to the AEO pressure. On the other hand, the AEO exhibited strong antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), β-carotene, and hydroxyl radicals, with IC₅₀ values of 117.60, 73.60, and 35.15 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, compared to the PC-3 or HT-29 cell lines, the A549 cells were more susceptible to the AEO (IC₅₀; 6.067 mg/mL). Besides, the confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging showed that 16 mg/mL of the AEO-induced apoptosis in the A549 cell lines. Our data indicated that the AEO might be useful in the food and pharmaceutical industry. Graphical abstract Preparation of Actinidia arguta essential oil (a) and schematic overview of the experiment (b)

As a medicinal and edible homologous fungi, Morchella is rich in multiple metabolites. The metabolite is a kind of essential substance with active components. In this study, Morchella fruit bodies and mycelium were selected to identify their metabolite components. The primary metabolites of the two experimental groups were analyzed using a method of widely targeted metabolome based on UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A total of 354 different metabolites were characterized, including 188 upregulated ones and 166 downregulated ones in the fruit bodies. Further, the main 20 metabolic pathways of the metabolites were analyzed. The first 9 ones are tyrosine metabolites, thyroid hormone biosynthetic pathway, phenylalanine metabolites, linoleic metabolites synthetic pathway, glycerophosphate metabolic pathway, choline in tumors, methyl butyl metabolites, arginine synthetic pathway, arginine and proline metabolites. This study provides theoretical basis for the analysis of metabolic pathway of Morchella fruit bodies and mycelium that serve for further research of their medicinal mechanism and effective components.