Exploring extracellular vesicles as novel therapeutic agents for intervertebral disc degeneration: delivery, applications, and mechanisms
Abstract Intervertebral disc degeneration is a multifactorial degenerative disease that poses a significant threat to the health of the elderly population. Current treatments primarily focus on physical therapy, medication, and surgery to alleviate symptoms associated with disc compression but do no...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Stem Cell Research & Therapy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04299-1 |
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| author | Yuxin Jin Ouqiang Wu Zhihua Chen Linjie Chen Kai Zhang Qizhu Chen Haijun Tian Xinzhou Wang Morgan Jones Kenny Yat Hong Kwan Yan Michael Li Pooyan Makvandi Xiangyang Wang Xiang Hai Jun Zhang Aimin Wu |
| author_facet | Yuxin Jin Ouqiang Wu Zhihua Chen Linjie Chen Kai Zhang Qizhu Chen Haijun Tian Xinzhou Wang Morgan Jones Kenny Yat Hong Kwan Yan Michael Li Pooyan Makvandi Xiangyang Wang Xiang Hai Jun Zhang Aimin Wu |
| author_sort | Yuxin Jin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Intervertebral disc degeneration is a multifactorial degenerative disease that poses a significant threat to the health of the elderly population. Current treatments primarily focus on physical therapy, medication, and surgery to alleviate symptoms associated with disc compression but do not address the progression of degeneration. Therefore, this review aimed to explore the potential of extracellular vesicle therapy as a novel preventive strategy to delay degeneration and enhance tissue repair in intervertebral discs. We cover the pathogenic mechanisms underlying intervertebral disc degeneration, including inflammation, apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, autophagy dysregulation, and the roles of non-coding RNAs. Subsequently, we discussed the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles and their molecular components, such as proteins, RNAs, and lipids, in modulating these pathways to counter intervertebral disc degeneration. We provides a comprehensive review of the significant role of extracellular vesicle cargo in mediating repair mechanisms. It discusses the functional enhancement advantages exhibited by extracellular vesicles under current bioengineering modifications and drug loading. The challenges and future prospects of utilizing extracellular vesicle therapy to treat this degenerative condition are also summarized. Graphical abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c9a2f9d9d41d4c1f8d13baee21c9f889 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1757-6512 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Stem Cell Research & Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-c9a2f9d9d41d4c1f8d13baee21c9f8892025-08-20T02:11:09ZengBMCStem Cell Research & Therapy1757-65122025-05-0116112910.1186/s13287-025-04299-1Exploring extracellular vesicles as novel therapeutic agents for intervertebral disc degeneration: delivery, applications, and mechanismsYuxin Jin0Ouqiang Wu1Zhihua Chen2Linjie Chen3Kai Zhang4Qizhu Chen5Haijun Tian6Xinzhou Wang7Morgan Jones8Kenny Yat Hong Kwan9Yan Michael Li10Pooyan Makvandi11Xiangyang Wang12Xiang Hai13Jun Zhang14Aimin Wu15Department of Orthopaedics, Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedics, Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedics, Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedics, Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implants, Department of Orthopedics, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Clinic of Spine Center, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopaedics, Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversitySpine Unit, The Royal Orthopaedic HospitalDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong KongDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Rochester Medical CenterUniversity Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedics, Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityEcological-Environment & Health College (EEHC), Zhejiang A & F UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital Bijie HospitalDepartment of Orthopaedics, Key Laboratory of Orthopaedics of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Intervertebral disc degeneration is a multifactorial degenerative disease that poses a significant threat to the health of the elderly population. Current treatments primarily focus on physical therapy, medication, and surgery to alleviate symptoms associated with disc compression but do not address the progression of degeneration. Therefore, this review aimed to explore the potential of extracellular vesicle therapy as a novel preventive strategy to delay degeneration and enhance tissue repair in intervertebral discs. We cover the pathogenic mechanisms underlying intervertebral disc degeneration, including inflammation, apoptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, autophagy dysregulation, and the roles of non-coding RNAs. Subsequently, we discussed the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles and their molecular components, such as proteins, RNAs, and lipids, in modulating these pathways to counter intervertebral disc degeneration. We provides a comprehensive review of the significant role of extracellular vesicle cargo in mediating repair mechanisms. It discusses the functional enhancement advantages exhibited by extracellular vesicles under current bioengineering modifications and drug loading. The challenges and future prospects of utilizing extracellular vesicle therapy to treat this degenerative condition are also summarized. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04299-1Intervertebral disc degenerationLower back painExtracellular vesiclesExosomes |
| spellingShingle | Yuxin Jin Ouqiang Wu Zhihua Chen Linjie Chen Kai Zhang Qizhu Chen Haijun Tian Xinzhou Wang Morgan Jones Kenny Yat Hong Kwan Yan Michael Li Pooyan Makvandi Xiangyang Wang Xiang Hai Jun Zhang Aimin Wu Exploring extracellular vesicles as novel therapeutic agents for intervertebral disc degeneration: delivery, applications, and mechanisms Stem Cell Research & Therapy Intervertebral disc degeneration Lower back pain Extracellular vesicles Exosomes |
| title | Exploring extracellular vesicles as novel therapeutic agents for intervertebral disc degeneration: delivery, applications, and mechanisms |
| title_full | Exploring extracellular vesicles as novel therapeutic agents for intervertebral disc degeneration: delivery, applications, and mechanisms |
| title_fullStr | Exploring extracellular vesicles as novel therapeutic agents for intervertebral disc degeneration: delivery, applications, and mechanisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring extracellular vesicles as novel therapeutic agents for intervertebral disc degeneration: delivery, applications, and mechanisms |
| title_short | Exploring extracellular vesicles as novel therapeutic agents for intervertebral disc degeneration: delivery, applications, and mechanisms |
| title_sort | exploring extracellular vesicles as novel therapeutic agents for intervertebral disc degeneration delivery applications and mechanisms |
| topic | Intervertebral disc degeneration Lower back pain Extracellular vesicles Exosomes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04299-1 |
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