MINI REVIEW article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. Inflammation
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1595095
This article is part of the Research TopicEmerging Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Musculoskeletal Diseases and Potential Therapeutic InterventionsView all 3 articles
Extracellular Vesicles in Osteoarthritis: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Potential, and Diagnostic Applications
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of Orthopaedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, China., Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China
- 2Orthopaedics Clinical Medicine Research Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, China., Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China
- 3Intelligent Orthopedics Industry Technology Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, China., Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation, inflammation, and bone structural changes, leading to significant disability. Current therapeutic strategies, including traditional treatments and stem cell-based therapies, face limitations such as inability to prevent disease progression, immunogenic rejection, and tumorigenic risks. Extracellular vesicle (EVs), nanoscale membrane-bound vesicles secreted by cells, has emerged as a promising cell-free therapeutic approach due to their low immunogenicity, stability, and ability to mediate intercellular communication. This review summarizes the roles of EVs derived from various cell types, including cartilage progenitor cells (CPCs), bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs), adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), and immune cells, in OA pathogenesis and treatment.EVs exhibit multifaceted therapeutic potential, including immunomodulation, chondrocyte regeneration, and anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, EVs serve as diagnostic biomarkers, offering non-invasive early detection of OA. Despite their promise, challenges such as scalability, targeting efficiency, and safety concerns remain. This review highlights the potential of EVs as both therapeutic agents and diagnostic tools, paving the way for innovative OA management strategies.
Keywords: Osteoarthritis, extracellular vesicles, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, stem cell-derived exosomes, Therapeutic Carriers, diagnostic biomarkers, anti-inflammation
Received: 17 Mar 2025; Accepted: 25 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Sun, Teng and Xia. 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: Yayi Xia, Department of Orthopaedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730030, China., Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.