Glucosamine as a regulator of O-GlcNAc signaling: linking metabolism to disease pathogenesis

Glucosamine, a naturally occurring amino sugar abundant in cartilage, has long been utilized as a dietary supplement to alleviate osteoarthritis (OA) and joint pain. Beyond its structural role in maintaining joint integrity, glucosamine is metabolized through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) to generate UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), the indispensable donor substrate for protein O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification.

Accumulating evidence indicates that glucosamine-driven modulation of HBP flux and the consequent alteration of O-GlcNAcylation exert profound effects on cellular signaling, metabolic regulation, and inflammatory responses. These mechanisms extend far beyond musculoskeletal health, influencing the pathogenesis of diverse conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diabetes, obesity, neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, sepsis, and cancer. Despite glucosamine's long-standing clinical use, its potential role as a metabolic regulator of O-GlcNAc cycling remains underexplored.

This review integrates current insights into the molecular basis of glucosamine-enhanced O-GlcNAcylation, highlighting its implications for disease onset and progression, and proposing a broader therapeutic framework that positions glucosamine as a promising modulator of inflammation and systemic pathology.