Osteoarthritis(OA)is a degenerative disease characterized by matrix degradation and cell death leading to a gradual loss of articular cartilage integrity.As a bacterial synthesis of quinine,pyrroloquinoline quinone(PQQ)is a strong redox cofactor with a variety of biological benefits,including antioxidant,anti-inflammation-induced mitochondrial metabolism regulation.This study was designed to investigate the effect of PQQ on TNF-α-induced mitochondrial damage in chondrocytes.Chondrocytes isolated from C57BL/6 mice were exposed to TNF-α 50 ng/mL,TNF-α 50 ng/mL+PQQ 10 pmol/L for 24 h.Then,morphological study,functional study and mechanism study were taken.The results revealed TNF-α-induced chondrocyte mitochondrion damage could be reduced by application of PQQ,evidenced by elevated number of mitochondria,well-kept mtDNA integrity,preserved ATP level,reestablished mitochondrial membrane potential,and prevented mitochondrial function.The present work strongly suggests that the mitochondrion is an important target for OA chondrocyte damage induced by TNF-α and the PQQ protection from this damage ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction induced by TNF-α.PQQ might be a potential chemical for OA intervention.