The Role of CXCL12 in Regulating Macrophage Polarization in the Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that is common and significantly impacted in middle-aged and elderly people, and its accompanying inflammatory response plays a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of the disease. In recent years, studies have shown that the polarization state of macrophages plays a key role in the inflammatory response of OA. Macrophages are key players in OA pathology and their activation status has been extensively studied. Various studies have shown that macrophages may respond to stimuli in their microenvironment by changing their phenotype to a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory phenotype, called macrophage polarization. Macrophages accumulate and polarize in many tissues (M1 or M2), such as synovial membrane, adipose tissue, bone marrow and joints, while resident macrophages, as well as other stromal cells (including fibroblasts, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts) form joints and function as a whole unit. We summarize findings related to macrophage polarization and osteoarthritis, including pathogenesis, molecular pathways, and treatments, to alleviate the progression of osteoarthritis disease.