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This study investigated the anti-osteoclastic and chondroprotective effects of far-infrared (FIR) therapy in osteoarthritis (OA), focusing on its ability to modulate pathological osteoclast (OC) activation and subchondral bone remodeling. A monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA rat model was used, and FIR's therapeutic potential was evaluated through longitudinal assessment of nociception (von Frey test), cartilage integrity (histomorphometry: H P < 0.05). (2) Cellular studies showed FIR inhibited RANKL-mediated OC differentiation, as evidenced by reduced TRAP activity and downregulation of OC-specific markers (P < 0.05). (3) Transcriptomic analysis identified actin cytoskeleton reorganization and OC differentiation pathways as primary targets of FIR intervention. This finding was supported by disrupting F-actin ring formation and modulating key regulatory proteins via MAPK/c-Fos/NFATc1 signaling (P < 0.05). Our findings establish FIR therapy as an effective physical pharmacology strategy for OA management. It simultaneously addresses nociception, cartilage degeneration, and pathological bone remodeling through selective targeting of OC cytoskelet.
Qin et al. (Tue,) studied this question.