Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles: new therapies for cartilage repair
Cartilage is crucial for joints, and its damage can lead to pain and functional impairment, causing financial burden to patients. Due to its weak self-repair, cartilage injury control is a research focus. Cartilage injury naturally with age, but mechanical trauma, lifestyle factors and certain genet...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1591400/full |
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| author | Hongwei Yang Hongwei Yang Haochen Yang Qin Wang Hanzhen Ji Tianmei Qian Tianmei Qian Yusen Qiao Junfeng Shi Meng Cong |
| author_facet | Hongwei Yang Hongwei Yang Haochen Yang Qin Wang Hanzhen Ji Tianmei Qian Tianmei Qian Yusen Qiao Junfeng Shi Meng Cong |
| author_sort | Hongwei Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cartilage is crucial for joints, and its damage can lead to pain and functional impairment, causing financial burden to patients. Due to its weak self-repair, cartilage injury control is a research focus. Cartilage injury naturally with age, but mechanical trauma, lifestyle factors and certain genetic abnormalities can increase the likelihood of symptomatic disease progression. Current treatments for cartilage injury include pharmacological and surgical interventions, but these lack the ability to stop the progression of disease and restore the regeneration of the cartilage. Biological therapies have been evaluated but show varying degrees of efficacy in cartilage regeneration long-term. The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy attracts attention as it is easily harvested and expanded. Once thought to repair via differentiation, MSCs are now known to secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) paracrinely. These EVs, rich in bioactive molecules, enable cell communication, boost growth factor secretion, regulate the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), and modulate inflammation, vital for cartilage repair. However, further research and clinical validation are still required for the application of MSC and MSC-EVs. This review highlights the current state of research on the use of MSC and MSC-EVs in the treatment of cartilage injury. It is hoped that the review in this paper will provide valuable references and inspiration for future researchers in therapeutic studies of cartilage repair. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eadded62d4fa45f48cc48352c015b4b8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj-art-eadded62d4fa45f48cc48352c015b4b82025-08-20T02:12:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852025-04-011310.3389/fbioe.2025.15914001591400Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles: new therapies for cartilage repairHongwei Yang0Hongwei Yang1Haochen Yang2Qin Wang3Hanzhen Ji4Tianmei Qian5Tianmei Qian6Yusen Qiao7Junfeng Shi8Meng Cong9Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, ChinaKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education and Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, ChinaKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education and Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Integration and Application of Digital Learning Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong, ChinaKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education and Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, ChinaCartilage is crucial for joints, and its damage can lead to pain and functional impairment, causing financial burden to patients. Due to its weak self-repair, cartilage injury control is a research focus. Cartilage injury naturally with age, but mechanical trauma, lifestyle factors and certain genetic abnormalities can increase the likelihood of symptomatic disease progression. Current treatments for cartilage injury include pharmacological and surgical interventions, but these lack the ability to stop the progression of disease and restore the regeneration of the cartilage. Biological therapies have been evaluated but show varying degrees of efficacy in cartilage regeneration long-term. The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy attracts attention as it is easily harvested and expanded. Once thought to repair via differentiation, MSCs are now known to secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) paracrinely. These EVs, rich in bioactive molecules, enable cell communication, boost growth factor secretion, regulate the synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), and modulate inflammation, vital for cartilage repair. However, further research and clinical validation are still required for the application of MSC and MSC-EVs. This review highlights the current state of research on the use of MSC and MSC-EVs in the treatment of cartilage injury. It is hoped that the review in this paper will provide valuable references and inspiration for future researchers in therapeutic studies of cartilage repair.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1591400/fullmesenchymal stem cellsextracellular vesiclescartilage injurycartilage regenerationregenerative therapy |
| spellingShingle | Hongwei Yang Hongwei Yang Haochen Yang Qin Wang Hanzhen Ji Tianmei Qian Tianmei Qian Yusen Qiao Junfeng Shi Meng Cong Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles: new therapies for cartilage repair Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology mesenchymal stem cells extracellular vesicles cartilage injury cartilage regeneration regenerative therapy |
| title | Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles: new therapies for cartilage repair |
| title_full | Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles: new therapies for cartilage repair |
| title_fullStr | Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles: new therapies for cartilage repair |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles: new therapies for cartilage repair |
| title_short | Mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles: new therapies for cartilage repair |
| title_sort | mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles new therapies for cartilage repair |
| topic | mesenchymal stem cells extracellular vesicles cartilage injury cartilage regeneration regenerative therapy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1591400/full |
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