The gut‑bone‑cartilage triad: Microbial regulation of the Wnt/&beta;‑catenin signaling pathway in osteoarthritis joint remodeling (Review)

Zhang,Ruipu; Zhang,Liang; Tian,Bin; Wang,Yiqun; Kang,Xin; Zheng,Jiang

doi:10.3892/mmr.2025.13733

January-2026 Volume 33 Issue 1

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January-2026 Volume 33 Issue 1

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Review Open Access

The gut‑bone‑cartilage triad: Microbial regulation of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway in osteoarthritis joint remodeling (Review)

Authors:
- Ruipu Zhang
- Liang Zhang
- Bin Tian
- Yiqun Wang
- Xin Kang
- Jiang Zheng
View Affiliations

Affiliations: Sports Medicine Center, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, P.R. China
Published online on: October 31, 2025 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13733
Article Number: 23
Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent chronic joint disorder with a notable global health burden, characterized by articular cartilage degeneration, abnormal bone remodeling and synovial inflammation. Traditional treatments mainly focus on symptom management rather than addressing the underlying disease mechanisms. The gut microbiome serves a potential role in OA through the gut‑bone‑cartilage axis. Notably, the gut microbiome and its metabolites can influence bone and cartilage homeostasis, and the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway has been implicated in OA pathogenesis. The present study comprehensively reviews the emerging evidence supporting the gut‑bone‑cartilage axis in OA and the role of microbial regulation of Wnt/β‑catenin signaling in joint remodeling. The current understanding of the influence of the gut microbiome on OA pathogenesis is summarized, discussing the mechanisms underlying the gut‑bone‑cartilage axis and exploring the therapeutic potential of targeting this axis. Future research should focus on developing targeted therapies that modulate the gut microbiome and the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway, as well as exploring the potential of gene editing and carrier technologies for OA treatment.