Cell therapy for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) also known as degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis is the most common chronic condition of the joints. It mainly damages the articular cartilage which results in pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints. It is the leading cause of disability and pain. Current therapeutic strategies are expensive and they are capable of eradicating only the symptoms of OA instead of reversing the damage caused by it. The aim of this review is to introduce the latest stem cell advances as a novel and effective therapeutics for the treatment of OA. One of the most effective stem cell source is mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow as well as from adipose tissues. Other cell sources which have the capability of becoming a novel treatment for OA such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and extracellular vesicles derived from MSCs have also been highlighted in this review.