Critical role of Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) in osteoarthritis chondrocytes: the interaction among various biological processes

OA (osteoarthritis) is a joint disease that causes drastic economic and financial burdens on people worldwide. Cartilage destruction and synovial inflammation contribute to joint disability, pain, weakness and deformity. Therefore, treatment of OA based on molecular regulation is important. SIRT6 (Sirtuin 6) possesses deacetylase activity and is responsible for many ageing-related biological processes.

SIRT6 activity is affected by age, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, there is a need to elucidate its role in OA. Chondrocytes are one of the most essential components of articular cartilage. Increasing evidence indicates that SIRT6 plays a critical role in regulating chondrocyte functions in OA. This review aimed to reveal the mechanisms by which SIRT6 regulates OA in chondrocytes.

SIRT6 is also involved in cartilage inflammation, chondrocyte senescence, redox balance, and DNA damage repair. Various biological processes regulate OA development and progression. SIRT6 regulation is an elaborate network that cannot be dissociated. Although an increasing number of studies have focused on SIRT6 function, more detailed research papers are lacking. Therefore, the interwoven functions of SIRT6 should be investigated in future studies.

This review describes the multi-faceted protective roles of SIRT6 in OA chondrocytes. SIRT6 participates in many biological processes and acts as a key node interacting with many cytokines to regulate OA progression. With further researches, the mechanisms of it will be more explicit and it might be a potential therapeutic target for OA treatment.