SCRG1 (stimulator of chondrogenesis 1) is a secreted protein primarily involved in cartilage development and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) fate determination. In chondrogenesis, SCRG1 expression is induced by glucocorticoids and localizes to the extracellular matrix, where it suppresses cell proliferation and promotes differentiation of mesenchymal precursors into chondrocytes 1. SCRG1 functions through a ligand-receptor axis with BST1, maintaining MSC stemness by preserving stem cell markers (Oct-4, CD271/LNGFR) and enabling self-renewal, migration, and osteogenic differentiation potential even at high passage numbers 23. Neurologically, SCRG1 exhibits developmental regulation and is expressed by cells of neuronal origin 4. In pathological contexts, elevated SCRG1 contributes to osteoarthritis pathogenesis by promoting chondrocyte catabolism and inflammatory responses through NGFR and NF-κB pathway activation; SCRG1 knockdown reverses these effects and enhances autophagy 5. A long non-coding RNA variant (linc-SCRG1) accelerates liver fibrosis by suppressing the RNA-binding protein tristetraprolin 6. SCRG1 emerges as a diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in osteoarthritis, with functional involvement in immune regulation pathways 7. These findings position SCRG1 as a dual-function regulator: promoting beneficial chondrogenesis and MSC maintenance while requiring inhibition in degenerative joint and fibrotic diseases.