Advances in stem cell therapy for cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease that compromises the structural integrity of cartilage tissue. Conventional treatments based on medication or surgery are nowadays inefficient and cell-based therapy has emerged as one of the most promising methods for cartilage regeneration. The first therapy developed for cartilage defects was autologous chondrocyte implantation, but in the last few decades stem cells (SCs) from different sources have been proposed as a possible alternative for OA. Areas covered: SC sources and available delivery procedures (scaffolds/hydrogels) are presented, along with the main issues arisen in this regard. Thereafter, preclinical and clinical trials performed in recent years are reviewed in order to take a glance toward the potential benefits that such therapies could deliver to the patients. Expert opinion: SCs have proven their potential and safety for OA treatment. Nevertheless, there are still many questions to be resolved before their widespread used in clinical practice, such as the treatment mechanism, the best cell source, the most appropriate processing method, the most effective dose and delivery procedure, and their efficacy. In this sense, long-term follow-up and larger randomized controlled trials utilizing standardized and established outcome scores are mandatory to make objective conclusions.

SP600125, a JNK-Specific Inhibitor, Regulates in vitro Auricular Cartilage Regeneration by Promoting Cell Proliferation and Inhibiting Extracellular Matrix Metabolism

“…In addition to the active chondrocytes, cartilaginous ECM metabolism is a key factor in determining the quality of regenerated cartilage. A balance between anabolism and catabolism of the ECM is vital for the long-term survival and stability of cartilage (Karsdal et al, 2016;Huang et al, 2018;Iturriaga et al, 2018). When dominated by anabolism, such as the in vitro cartilage regeneration models, cartilage tends to grow; when dominated by catabolism, such as in models of OA, cartilage tends to degrade.…”

Mapping Thematic Trends and Analysing Hotspots Concerning the Use of Stem Cells for Cartilage Regeneration: a Bibliometric Analysis From 2010 to 2020

“…In contrast, the application of stem cells in tissue engineering is more promising. According to current research, the mechanism underlying cartilage regeneration in stem cells is mainly attributed to direct differentiation of chondrocytes and paracrine secretion 27,28 . BM-MSCs are one of the most commonly used cell types in tissue engineering (table 5), and they can be induced into multiple cell types, including chondrocytes.…”

<p>Growth Factor and Its Polymer Scaffold-Based Delivery System for Cartilage Tissue Engineering</p>

“…Stem cells, pluripotent cells and native progenitor cells are commonly used in combination with scaffolds to accelerate and improve the regeneration process. 16 , 17 Moreover, cell-based therapies are influenced by the cellular microenvironment to some extent. Growth factors are of high importance as they have the potency to induce and enhance cellular responses, which is beneficial for the cells as they need to differentiate into desired lineages.…”