Tamarixetin Protects Chondrocytes against IL-1β-Induced Osteoarthritis Phenotype by Inhibiting NF-κB and Activating Nrf2 Signaling

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage breakdown and chronic inflammation in joints. As the most prevalent form of arthritis, OA affects around 600 million people globally. Despite the increasing number of individuals with OA risk factors, such as aging and obesity, there is currently no effective cure for the disease. In this context, this study investigated the therapeutic effects of tamarixetin, a flavonoid with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, against OA pathology and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism. In interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-treated chondrocytes, tamarixetin inhibited the OA phenotypes, restoring cell viability and chondrogenic properties while reducing hypertrophic differentiation and dedifferentiation. Tamarixetin alleviated oxidative stress via the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway activation and inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Furthermore, tamarixetin attenuated pyroptosis, a programmed cell death caused by excessive inflammation, by suppressing inflammasome activation. We confirmed that the chondroprotective effects of tamarixetin are mediated by the concurrent upregulation of Nrf2 signaling and downregulation of NF-κB signaling, which are key players in balancing antioxidative and inflammatory responses. Overall, our study demonstrated that tamarixetin possesses chondroprotective properties by alleviating IL-1β-induced cellular stress in chondrocytes, suggesting its therapeutic potential to relieve OA phenotype.