M2 macrophage-derived exosomes for bone regeneration: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Bone defects pose significant clinical challenges.
• Exosomes, particularly those derived from M2 macrophages, are emerging as potent therapeutic agents.
• Understanding their role in bone regeneration is crucial for developing novel treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of M2 macrophage-derived exosomes in bone regeneration.
• To synthesize evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies on their regenerative potential.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus (2020-2024).
• Included controlled in vitro and in vivo studies investigating M2 macrophage-derived exosomes for bone regeneration.
• Risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE tool for animal studies.

Main Results:

• Twenty studies were included, with 13 employing both in vitro and in vivo analyses.
• M2 macrophage-derived exosomes effectively promoted bone regeneration and vascularization in animal models.
• In vitro studies confirmed positive effects on cell proliferation, migration, osteogenesis, and angiogenesis, mediated by miRNA regulation.

Conclusions:

• M2 macrophage-derived exosomes exhibit substantial potential for promoting bone regeneration.
• Further research into application optimization and mechanistic elucidation is vital for clinical translation.