Of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells and Osteoarthritis: Time to Merge the Latest Breakthroughs

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease of the articular cartilage with subchondral bone remodeling and synovial inflammation. There is currently no cure for OA, making effective management extremely challenging. During the last years, significant advances has been made to develop regenerative medicine based on the use of stem cells as alternative for treating OA. Because of their several advantages including availability, expandability, transplantability, and ethical implications. mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) appear thus to be a promising tool for the field. Based on the recent paper of Klemen Čamernik et al. in Stem Cell Reviews and Reports, we highlighted some challenges and possible strategies to enhance the therapeutic potential of MSCs for OA.