Cell‐Based Therapies for Degenerative Musculoskeletal Diseases

Abstract

Degenerative musculoskeletal diseases (DMDs), including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and sarcopenia, present major challenges in the aging population. Patients with DMDs present with pain, functional decline, and reduced exercise tolerance, which result in long‐term or permanent deficits in their ability to perform daily activities. Current strategies for dealing with this cluster of diseases focus on relieving pain, but they have a limited capacity to repair function or regenerate tissue. Cell‐based therapies have attracted considerable attention in recent years owing to their unique mechanisms of action and remarkable effects on regeneration. In this review, current experimental attempts to use cell‐based therapies for DMDs are highlighted, and the modes of action of different cell types and their derivatives, such as exosomes, are generalized. In addition, the latest findings from state‐of‐the‐art clinical trials are reviewed, approaches to improve the efficiency of cell‐based therapies are summarized, and unresolved questions and potential future research directions for the translation of cell‐based therapies are identified.

Genetic causality and site-specific relationship between sarcopenia and osteoarthritis: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

“…Sarcopenia (SP) and osteoarthritis (OA) as degenerative musculoskeletal diseases (DMD) emerged as major challenges for the aging population ( Yin et al, 2023 ). SP is a muscle disease (muscle failure) ( Cruz-Jentoft et al, 2019 ), characterized by an accelerated loss of muscle mass and function ( Cruz-Jentoft and Sayer, 2019 ).…”

Nanomedicines Promote Cartilage Regeneration in Osteoarthritis by Synergistically Enhancing Chondrogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Regulating Inflammatory Environment

“…Advanced OA is characterized by more severe symptoms with synovial inflammation, cartilage degeneration or destruction, and subchondral bone remodeling. Accompanied by microenvironment disorder, only a few endogenous MSCs can be found in the cartilage damaged areas, which might be depleted or restricted in recruitment and migration to injured site, preventing MSCs from differentiating into chondrocytes for cartilage repair. Although the differentiation efficiency of endogenous stem cells could be improved by AHK-CaP/siCA9 NPs in early stage OA, the number of endogenous stem cells is far insufficient, and their activity is inhibited in advanced OA.…”

Naringin Ameliorates IL-6 Mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and skeletal muscle degeneratio via AMPK/Nrf-2 pathway

“…They play a critical role in minimizing intervertebral hypermobility and ensuring lumbar segmental stability [9,10]. These muscles, vital for lumbar spine mobility, endure constant impact from PMD, a prevalent and substantial contributor to DLBP [11][12][13]. In PMD, a persistent imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation leads to a decline in skeletal muscle mass and function, signi cantly impacting morbidity and mortality rates.…”