Exosomes: critical mediator and therapeutic target for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by articular cartilage degradation and chondrocyte injury. Increased cell apoptosis of chondrocytes and inflammation are features of degenerating cartilage. Recently, exosomes are considered as important mediators of the pathogenesis and progression of OA. Importantly, exosomes originating from different cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), have been shown to delay the progression of OA by different mechanisms. These exosomes derived from MSC harbor several proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and cytosolic material that promote chondrocyte proliferation and migration and prevent the apoptosis of chondrocytes. Based on these findings, exosomes may serve be diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for OA. In this review, we summarize the role of exosomes and their key components in mediating OA development and therapy.