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Updated: May 1, 2026

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
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An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice

Published on: June 6, 2025

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Exosome-mediated crosstalk in rheumatoid arthritis: Pathogenic mediators to next-generation therapeutics

Zahra Oushyani Roudsari1, Farzaneh Sadeghi2, Fatemeh Salahpour Anarjan3

  • 1Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.

Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry
|April 29, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis and treatment. Therapeutic EVs show promise for diagnosing and treating RA by modulating inflammation and delivering drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology and Rheumatology
  • Cell Biology and Nanomedicine

Background:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing joint inflammation and destruction.
  • Conventional RA therapies often yield suboptimal patient responses, driving the need for novel treatments.
  • Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are critical intercellular communicators in RA, influencing disease progression and therapeutic outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review the biogenesis, characterization, and multifaceted roles of EVs in rheumatoid arthritis.
  • To consolidate evidence on the potential of EVs as diagnostic biomarkers and targeted therapeutic platforms for RA.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review analyzing the role of EVs in RA pathophysiology and therapeutic modulation.
  • Examination of EV cargo (miRNAs, proteins) and their origins (immune cells, MSCs, microbiota).
  • Analysis of bioengineering strategies for utilizing EVs in drug delivery systems for RA treatment.

Main Results:

  • Pathological EVs from inflammatory sites exacerbate RA by promoting systemic inflammation and joint degradation.
  • Therapeutic EVs (e.g., from MSCs) exert immunomodulatory effects, suppressing inflammation and balancing immune responses.
  • Engineered EVs can serve as precision drug delivery systems for targeted RA therapies, such as methotrexate.

Conclusions:

  • Extracellular vesicles are pivotal in rheumatoid arthritis, acting as both drivers of disease and potent therapeutic agents.
  • EVs offer transformative potential as next-generation cell-free biomarkers for RA diagnosis.
  • EV-based therapies represent a promising frontier for targeted and effective rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
Keywords:
AutoimmunityBiomarkersExosomesExtracellular vesiclesImmunotherapyMicroRNARheumatoid arthritis

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