Forsythoside B alleviates osteoarthritis through the HMGB1/TLR4/NF‐κB and Keap1/Nrf2/HO‐1 pathways

Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint pain and dysfunction syndrome resulting from severe joint degeneration. Inflammation and degeneration of the articular cartilage are two main features of OA and have tight interactions during OA progression. Conventional treatment with nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs has been widely utilized clinically, whereas the side effects have restricted their application. Forsythoside B has been found with anti‐inflammatory effects and antiapoptosis in inflammatory diseases, whereas in OA it remains poorly understood. Interleukin (IL)−1β (10 ng/mL) was taken to induce an OA cell model on HC‐A chondrocytes and an OA rat model was constructed for in vivo experiments. Forsythoside B was adopted to treat HC‐A chondrocytes and OA rats. As shown by the data, Forsythoside B hampered IL‐1β‐elicited rat chondrocyte apoptosis, oxidative stress, and facilitated proliferation. The profiles of inflammatory factors, NOD‐like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasomes, Kelch‐like epichlorohydrin‐associated protein‐1 (Keap1), and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) phosphorylation were suppressed by Forsythoside B, whereas the nuclear factor E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) levels were promoted. Further, Forsythoside B mitigated cartilage damage and degeneration. Moreover, the oxidative stress and inflammation mediators in the cartilage tissue of OA rats were remarkably abated. Collectively, Forsythoside B hinders the NF‐κB and Keap1/Nrf2/HO‐1 pathways to curb IL‐1β‐elicited OA rat oxidative stress and inflammation both in vivo and ex vivo, ameliorating OA development. All over, this study provides an underlying strategy for treating OA, which might help the clinical treatment of OA patients.