Lipid-Driven Immunometabolism in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A New Axis for Musculoskeletal Regeneration

The immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) underpins their therapeutic value in musculoskeletal disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms remain ill-defined. Traditionally associated with immune cells, immunometabolism (the cellular metabolism-immune system interplay) is now recognized as central in a broader range of processes, including tissue homeostasis, repair, and chronic inflammation. Depending on the context and cell type, distinct metabolic pathways (e.g., fatty acid oxidation, lipid mediator biosynthesis) can drive pro-inflammatory/pro-resolving immune phenotypes. This dynamic is salient in musculoskeletal tissues: macrophage polarization, T-cell activation, and MSC immunomodulation are governed by metabolic cues. Emerging evidence highlights lipid-driven immunometabolism as a key player in MSC function, particularly in post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) and osteoporosis (OP). Unlike immune cells, MSCs rely on distinct metabolic programs (e.g., lipid sensing, uptake, and signaling) to exert context-dependent immunoregulation. In PTOA, persistent inflammation triggers lipid-centric metabolic pathways, enhancing MSC-driven immunomodulation and therapeutic outcomes. In OP, low-grade inflammation and altered lipid metabolism impair bone regeneration, modulating lipid-driven routes that can restore MSC osteogenic function and influence osteoclast precursors. This review explores how lipid-derived mediators and signaling contribute to MSCs' immunosuppressive capacity, positioning lipid immunometabolism as a novel axis for rebalancing the inflamed joint microenvironment and encouraging musculoskeletal regeneration.