Potential role of mitochondria in synoviocytes

Synoviocytes are located in the synovium lining layer, which is composed of macrophage-like synoviocytes (MLS) and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) with different characteristics. Mitochondria, which exist in most cells, are two membrane-covered organelles. In addition to providing the necessary ATP for synoviocytes, mitochondria are involved in the regulation of redox homeostasis and the integration of synoviocytes death signals. In recent years, mitochondrial dysfunction has been found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Interestingly, recent studies have started uncovering that mitochondria that were previously reported to play a role in chondrocytes or immune cells, but not known to have pronounced roles in synoviocytes, can actually play crucial roles in the regulation of the pathological properties of the synoviocytes. The purpose of this review is to summarize our current understanding of the key role of mitochondria in synoviocytes, including mitochondrial dysfunction in synoviocytes can induce and aggravate inflammatory responses and changes in mitochondrial structure and function with the involvement of multiple cytokines, signal pathway, and hypoxic state of synovial tissue alter the response of synoviocytes to apoptotic stimulation. Also, mitochondrial abnormalities in synoviocytes promote the synoviocytes invasion and proliferation.