Linoleic acid accelerates osteoarthritis progression in male rats by targeting iron-sulfur clusters to drive ferroptosis in chondrocytes

Nature Communications, Published online: 08 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-75513-8 Linoleic acid accumulates in the cartilage and serum of patients with osteoarthritis, but its role in disease progression remains unclear. Here, the authors show that linoleic acid binds and promotes degradation of ISCU, reducing iron-sulfur cluster synthesis and driving chondrocyte ferroptosis.