Immunoregulatory orchestrations in osteoarthritis and mesenchymal stromal cells for therapy

作者：Tongmeng Jiang, Shibo Su, Ruijiao Tian, Yang Jiao, Shudan Zheng, Tianyi Liu, Yu Yang, Pengbing Hua, Xiuhong Cao, Yanlong Xing, Panli Ni, Rui Wang, Fabiao Yu, Juan Wang · 发表于：Journal of Orthopaedic Translation · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.jot.2025.08.009 · 被引用次数：28 · 研究领域：Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms、Mesenchymal stem cell research、Extracellular vesicles in disease

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the inability of stable and complex joint structures to function as they did, accompanied by inflammation, tissue changes, chronic pain, and neuropathic inflammation. In the past, the primary focus on the causes of joint dysfunction has been on mechanical stress leading to cartilage wear. Further researches emphasize the aging of cartilage and subchondral bone triggered cartilage lesion and osteophyte formation. Recently, the effects of immune cells, particularly macrophages and T cells, have been receiving focused attention. Herein, we primarily discuss the role of macrophages and T cells in the progression of OA and how mild inflammation in cartilage, subchondral bone, synovium, muscles, and nerves influences the progression of OA. Additionally, this review highlights the interaction between mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and macrophages, as well as MSCs and T cells, along with how these interactions affect OA development and treatment. Finally, we explore future research directions and issues that still need to be addressed, providing more insights for the clinical translation of MSC-based therapy for OA. The translational potential of this article: This review highlights the promising translational potential of MSCs in OA therapy by targeting immunoregulatory networks. MSCs directly modulating macrophage M1/M2 polarization, Th1/Th2 and Th/Treg balance of T cells to suppress inflammation, thereby promoting cartilage repair and subc...