title: MSC exosome as a cell-free MSC therapy for cartilage regeneration: Implications for osteoarthritis treatment.
abstract: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies have demonstrated efficacy in cartilage repair in animal and clinical studies. The efficacy of MSC-based therapies which was previously predicated on the chondrogenic potential of MSC is increasingly attributed to the paracrine secretion, particularly exosomes. Exosomes are thought to function primarily as intercellular communication vehicles to transfer bioactive lipids, nucleic acids (mRNAs and microRNAs) and proteins between cells to elicit biological responses in recipient cells. For MSC exosomes, many of these biological responses translated to a therapeutic outcome in injured or diseased cells. Here, we review the current understanding of MSC exosomes, discuss the possible mechanisms of action in cartilage repair within the context of the widely reported immunomodulatory and regenerative potency of MSC exosomes, and provide new perspectives for development of an off-the-shelf and cell-free MSC therapy for treatment of cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Tissue Engineering Program, Life Sciences Institute National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: dentohws@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Wei Seong
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ruenn Chai
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Tissue Engineering Program, Life Sciences Institute National University of Singapore, Singapore; Cartilage Repair Program, Therapeutic Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: James Hoi Po
authors.initials: JHP
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore; Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: saikiang.lim@imb.a-star.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Sai Kiang
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055354:Exosomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases
keywords: Cartilage; Chondrocytes; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells; Tissue engineering; Tissue regeneration