Tier 3 — preclinical

Glycine induces MafG to regulate glutathione metabolism, inhibit chondrocyte ferroptosis, and upregulate plectin to improve osteoarthritis

Li Y, Lv Y, Zhang J, Yu H, Tang Y, Chen G, Su J, Ji R, Zhao W
Cellular signalling 2026 147:112703

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 42372897
DOI
10.1016/j.cellsig.2026.112703
Funding
Indexed support: Shandong Province Natural Science Foundation. See the publication for grant and funder details.
Competing interests
The accessible abstract does not establish the authors' competing interests; absence of a statement is not evidence of no conflicts.

Study snapshot

DesignControlled animal intervention with mechanistic experiments
ModelPrimary rat chondrocytes and rat ACL-transection osteoarthritis
SampleRat chondrocyte assays and ACL-transection osteoarthritis rats; n varies
InterventionGlycine pretreatment in cells and intra-articular glycine in rats, with gene silencing
DurationCell and route-specific animal experiments
EndpointsFerroptosis; Glutathione; Cartilage pathology; MafG/Plectin signaling

What the study showed, in plain terms

Glycine reduced selected cartilage-injury measures in experimental cells and rats. The animal treatment was injected into the joint, so the result is not evidence for an oral glycine regimen.

Key findings

  • The study implicated MafG-dependent glutathione and Plectin regulation.
  • Disrupting the proposed pathway diminished the reported protective effects.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Intra-articular delivery differs from oral intake in exposure and safety.

No human osteoarthritis efficacy was established.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction