The Current State of Osteoarthritis Treatment Options Using Stem Cells for Regenerative Therapy: A Review

Abstract

Articular cartilage has very low metabolic activity. While minor injuries may be spontaneously repaired within the joint by chondrocytes, there is very little chance of a severely impaired joint regenerating itself when damaged. Therefore, any significant joint injury has little chance of spontaneously healing without some type of therapy. This article is a review that will examine the causes of osteoarthritis, both acute and chronic, and how it may be treated using traditional methods as well as with the latest stem cell technology. The latest regenerative therapy is discussed, including the use and potential risks of mesenchymal stem cells for tissue regeneration and implantation. Applications are then discussed for the treatment of OA in humans after using canine animal models. Since the most successful research models of OA were dogs, the first applications for treatment were veterinary. However, the treatment options have now advanced to the point where patients suffering from osteoarthritis may be treated with this technology. A survey of the literature was performed in order to determine the current state of stem cell technology being used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Then, the stem cell technology was compared with traditional treatment options.

Role of Autologous Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue in Osteoarthritis Treatment

“…In the postoperative period, we observed an improvement regarding globally pain and quality of life of patients, who demonstrated a general level of satisfaction according to other studies [ 32 ]. In contrast, neither the type of procedure nor the anatomical site of the subcutaneous adipose tissue harvesting significantly affects the total number of viable cells that can be obtained from the SVF [ 33 ].…”

Mechanical loading and orthobiologic therapies in the treatment of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA): a comprehensive review

“…These treatments, often derived from autologous sources, tend to exhibit fewer adverse effects compared to traditional therapies of corticosteroid injections and immunosuppressive agents, and are less invasive compared to other orthobiologic therapies such as chondrocyte transplantation and implantation. Consequently, MSCs and PRP offer considerable promise for safe and effective clinical application in managing PTOA (Hermann et al, 2018;Thoene et al, 2023). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous platelet solution concentrated above physiological levels.…”

Functional Nanomaterials for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

“… 23 , 24 Excessive ROS levels can cause severe cartilage damage, and without treatment, OA has a slim chance of self-recovery. 25 In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction is related to apoptosis, aging, and a variety of pathological states. Mitochondrial dysfunction affects the respiratory chain activity of chondrocytes, increases inflammation, and promotes apoptosis, making it one of the primary factors leading to OA.…”