The Research Progress of Exosomes in Osteoarthritis, With Particular Emphasis on the Therapeutic Effect

Shang Xian Bo; Wang Chen; Liu Chang; Yu Hao Ran; Guo Hui Hui; Zhu Ya Kun; Xie Wu Kun; Fan Hai Tao; Cheng Wen Dan

doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.731756

The Research Progress of Exosomes in Osteoarthritis, With Particular Emphasis on the Therapeutic Effect

Front Pharmacol. 2022 Mar 2:13:731756. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.731756. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Shang Xian Bo^{1

2}, Wang Chen^{1

2}, Liu Chang³, Yu Hao Ran², Guo Hui Hui^{1

2}, Zhu Ya Kun⁴, Xie Wu Kun², Fan Hai Tao⁴, Cheng Wen Dan²

Affiliations

¹ Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
² Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
³ Armed Police Corps Hospital of Anhui Province, Hefei, China.
⁴ Fuyang Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China.

Abstract

Exosomes participate in many physiological and pathological processes by regulating cell-to-cell communication. This affects the etiology and development of diseases, such as osteoarthritis (OA). Although exosomes in the OA tissue microenvironment are involved in the progression of OA, exosomes derived from therapeutic cells represent a new therapeutic strategy for OA treatment. Recent studies have shown that exosomes participate in OA treatment by regulating the proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and extracellular matrix synthesis of chondrocytes. However, studies in this field are scant. This review summarizes the therapeutic properties of exosomes on chondrocytes in OA and their underlying molecular mechanisms. We also discuss the challenges and prospects of exosome-based OA treatment.

Keywords: chondrocyte; exosomes; extracellular matrix; extracellular vesicles; osteoarthritis; treatment.

Publication types

Review