REVIEW article
Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
Sec. Membrane Traffic and Organelle Dynamics
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1643141
This article is part of the Research TopicBeyond Energy Production: Exploring Mitochondrial Dynamics and DiseaseView all articles
The Potential of Mitochondrial Transfer as the Modifying Therapy for Osteoarthritis
Provisionally accepted
Yuanpei He1,2
Xinge Wang3,4
Boya Xu5Shichao Chen1,2Hongcai Li6Bei Chang7Chao Hu8
Xiaorong Lan1,2*
Shiting Li1,2*
Guangwen Li1,2,4*- 1The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- 2Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Luzhou, China
- 3Department of Stomatology, Norman Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
- 4School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, China
- 5Department of Stomatology, The 941 Hospital of the Joint Service Support Force of the People's Liberation Army of China, Xining, China
- 6Department of Stomatology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- 7Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, China
- 8Department of General Dentistry, The Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Mitochondrial transfer is defined the process through which specific cell types release their mitochondria and subsequently transfer them to unrelated cell types in response to various physiological or pathological stimuli. This process enhances cellular function and alters disease states. Recent research has begun to explore the potential of intercellular mitochondrial transfer as a therapeutic strategy for human diseases. Mitochondrial dysfunction represents a significant pathological alteration in osteoarthritis, and studies indicate that mitochondrial transfer may serve as an effective modulatory treatment approach for osteoarthritis. Mitochondrial transfer, as an innovative subcellular therapeutic technique, presents the advantages of diverse acquisition methods and multiple transmission pathways. This paper aims to summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms of mitochondrial transfer in relation to osteoarthritis, emphasizing the existing research on mitochondrial transfer in osteoarthritis and its potential as a disease-modifying therapy.
Keywords: Mitochondrial transfer, Osteoarthritis, Disease-modifying, TherapyMitochondrial Dysfunction, Artificial mitochondrial transfer
Received: 08 Jun 2025; Accepted: 12 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 He, Wang, Xu, Chen, Li, Chang, Hu, Lan, Li and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Xiaorong Lan, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
Shiting Li, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
Guangwen Li, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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