Exosomes in cartilage microenvironment regulation and cartilage repair

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease that predominantly impacts the hip, hand, and knee joints. Its pathology is defined by the progressive degradation of articular cartilage, formation of bone spurs, and synovial inflammation, resulting in pain, joint function limitations, and substantial...

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Main Authors: Han Longfei, Hou Wenyuan, Fang Weihua, Peng Peng, Lu Sun, Lin Kun, He Mincong, Yang Fan, He Wei, Wei Qiushi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1460416/full
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author Han Longfei
Hou Wenyuan
Fang Weihua
Peng Peng
Lu Sun
Lin Kun
He Mincong
He Mincong
Yang Fan
Yang Fan
He Wei
He Wei
Wei Qiushi
Wei Qiushi
Wei Qiushi
author_facet Han Longfei
Hou Wenyuan
Fang Weihua
Peng Peng
Lu Sun
Lin Kun
He Mincong
He Mincong
Yang Fan
Yang Fan
He Wei
He Wei
Wei Qiushi
Wei Qiushi
Wei Qiushi
author_sort Han Longfei
collection DOAJ
description Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease that predominantly impacts the hip, hand, and knee joints. Its pathology is defined by the progressive degradation of articular cartilage, formation of bone spurs, and synovial inflammation, resulting in pain, joint function limitations, and substantial societal and familial burdens. Current treatment strategies primarily target pain alleviation, yet improved interventions addressing the underlying disease pathology are scarce. Recently, exosomes have emerged as a subject of growing interest in OA therapy. Numerous studies have investigated exosomes to offer promising therapeutic approaches for OA through diverse in vivo and in vitro models, elucidating the mechanisms by which exosomes from various cell sources modulate the cartilage microenvironment and promote cartilage repair. Preclinical investigations have demonstrated the regulatory effects of exosomes originating from human cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), synovial fibroblasts, chondrocytes, macrophages, and exosomes derived from Chinese herbal medicines, on the modulation of the cartilage microenvironment and cartilage repair through diverse signaling pathways. Additionally, therapeutic mechanisms encompass cartilage inflammation, degradation of the cartilage matrix, proliferation and migration of chondrocytes, autophagy, apoptosis, and mitigation of oxidative stress. An increasing number of exosome carrier scaffolds are under development. Our review adopts a multidimensional approach to enhance comprehension of the pivotal therapeutic functions exerted by exosomes sourced from diverse cell types in OA. Ultimately, our aim is to pinpoint therapeutic targets capable of regulating the cartilage microenvironment and facilitating cartilage repair in OA.
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spelling doaj-art-a3726ef429e3498babc3a66ed2d85b012025-08-20T02:02:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-03-011310.3389/fcell.2025.14604161460416Exosomes in cartilage microenvironment regulation and cartilage repairHan Longfei0Hou Wenyuan1Fang Weihua2Peng Peng3Lu Sun4Lin Kun5He Mincong6He Mincong7Yang Fan8Yang Fan9He Wei10He Wei11Wei Qiushi12Wei Qiushi13Wei Qiushi14Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaTraumatology and Orthopedics Institute of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaTraumatology and Orthopedics Institute of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaTraumatology and Orthopedics Institute of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaTraumatology and Orthopedics Institute of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome/Orthopaedic, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaOsteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease that predominantly impacts the hip, hand, and knee joints. Its pathology is defined by the progressive degradation of articular cartilage, formation of bone spurs, and synovial inflammation, resulting in pain, joint function limitations, and substantial societal and familial burdens. Current treatment strategies primarily target pain alleviation, yet improved interventions addressing the underlying disease pathology are scarce. Recently, exosomes have emerged as a subject of growing interest in OA therapy. Numerous studies have investigated exosomes to offer promising therapeutic approaches for OA through diverse in vivo and in vitro models, elucidating the mechanisms by which exosomes from various cell sources modulate the cartilage microenvironment and promote cartilage repair. Preclinical investigations have demonstrated the regulatory effects of exosomes originating from human cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), synovial fibroblasts, chondrocytes, macrophages, and exosomes derived from Chinese herbal medicines, on the modulation of the cartilage microenvironment and cartilage repair through diverse signaling pathways. Additionally, therapeutic mechanisms encompass cartilage inflammation, degradation of the cartilage matrix, proliferation and migration of chondrocytes, autophagy, apoptosis, and mitigation of oxidative stress. An increasing number of exosome carrier scaffolds are under development. Our review adopts a multidimensional approach to enhance comprehension of the pivotal therapeutic functions exerted by exosomes sourced from diverse cell types in OA. Ultimately, our aim is to pinpoint therapeutic targets capable of regulating the cartilage microenvironment and facilitating cartilage repair in OA.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1460416/fullexosomesosteoarthritiscartilage repaircartilage microenvironmentmechanism of action
spellingShingle Han Longfei
Hou Wenyuan
Fang Weihua
Peng Peng
Lu Sun
Lin Kun
He Mincong
He Mincong
Yang Fan
Yang Fan
He Wei
He Wei
Wei Qiushi
Wei Qiushi
Wei Qiushi
Exosomes in cartilage microenvironment regulation and cartilage repair
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
exosomes
osteoarthritis
cartilage repair
cartilage microenvironment
mechanism of action
title Exosomes in cartilage microenvironment regulation and cartilage repair
title_full Exosomes in cartilage microenvironment regulation and cartilage repair
title_fullStr Exosomes in cartilage microenvironment regulation and cartilage repair
title_full_unstemmed Exosomes in cartilage microenvironment regulation and cartilage repair
title_short Exosomes in cartilage microenvironment regulation and cartilage repair
title_sort exosomes in cartilage microenvironment regulation and cartilage repair
topic exosomes
osteoarthritis
cartilage repair
cartilage microenvironment
mechanism of action
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1460416/full
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