Degenerative osteoarthritis a reversible chronic disease

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic musculoskeletal disorder. It can affect any joint and is the most frequent single cause of disability in older adults. OA is a progressive degenerative disease involving the entire joint structure in a vicious circle that includes the capsule-bursa tissue inflammation, synovial fluid modifications, cartilage breakdown and erosions, osteochondral inflammatory damage leading to bone erosion and distortion. Research has identified the initial inflammatory-immunologic process that starts this vicious cycle leading to so-called early OA. Research has also identified the role played in the disease advancement by synoviocytes type A and B, chondrocytes, extracellular matrix, local immune-inflammatory mediators and proteases. This article investigates the joint-resident MSCs that play an essential local homeostatic role and regulate cell turn over and tissue repair. Resident MSCs establish and maintain a local regenerative microenvironment. The understanding of OA physiopathology clarifies the core mechanisms by which minimally invasive interventions might be able to halt and reverse the course of early stage OA. Interventions employing PRP, MSCs and exosomes are considered in this article.

Keywords: Degenerative osteoarthritis; Early OA; MSCs; PRP; Tissue Regeneration.

Fig. 1

Distribution of various cells in the synovium and joint tissues. FLS = fibroblast-like synoviocytes only represent intima fibroblasts. Joint location of different resident MSCs.