Chondrocyte inflammatory-immune responses in osteoarthritis: From pathogenesis to therapeutic intervention

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease characterized by cartilage degeneration, and recent evidence has demonstrated its close association with inflammatory and immune responses. Current research on OA has predominantly focused on biomechanical injury, cartilage matrix degradation, and subchondral bone remodeling, with the underlying molecular mechanisms partially elucidated. However, the role of inflammatory-immune responses in OA pathogenesis, particularly the pathological functions of chondrocytes within the inflammatory micro-environment and their associated immune signaling pathways, remains inadequately elucidated.This review systematically summarizes the pivotal roles of chondrocytes in the inflammatory-immune mechanisms of OA, highlighting how inflammatory and immune mediators within chondrocytes contribute to structural and functional damage to joint tissues, as well as their involvement in regulating inflammatory cascades, metabolic reprogramming, cellular senescence, and programmed cell death through canonical signaling pathways. Moreover, we emphasize the critical roles of chondrocytes in initiating, sustaining, and amplifying the inflammatory micro-environment of OA, and discuss their potential as therapeutic targets. Collectively, this review aims to provide a theoretical framework for mechanistic studies and the development of precision therapeutic strategies in OA.