Exploration of the Pathogenesis and Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis Based on Mitochondrial Autophagy/Macrophage Polarization from the Theory of"Spleen Lost Essence,Turbidity Toxin Endogenous"
YE Zifeng
TAN Xuyi
YUAN Yiwei
KUANG Gaoyan
LU Min
Abstract：Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)is the most common degenerative joint disease,and its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood.Studies have shown that mitochondrial dysfunction is closely associated with aging and degenerative diseases,making the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis is crucial for KOA treatment.Mitophagy,by clearing damaged mitochondria,helps preserve mitochondrial balance,suggesting that regulating mitophagy could be a potential therapeutic target for KOA.Additionally,recent research has revealed that macrophages play a key role in maintaining immune microenvironment homeostasis within the joint.An imbalance in M1/M2 macrophage polarization can lead to excessive release of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases,thereby accelerating KOA progression.The Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)theory of"spleen lost essence,turbid toxin endogenous"shares mechanistic similarities with mitophagy/macrophage polarization.Based on this theory and modern medical research,this paper explores the mechanisms by which TCM may prevent and treat KOA through the regulation of mitophagy/macrophage polarization.This study not only contributes to a deeper understanding of the scientific basis of TCM theory but also provides novel insights into TCM formulation strategies and clinical approaches for KOA management.
Keywords：Knee osteoarthritisSpleen lost essenceTurbid toxin endogenousMitophagyMacrophage polarization
Publication Date：2025-09-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-09-30(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 1547-1552 )