Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived Exosomes: A Possible Therapeutic Strategy for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a common age-related disorder characterized by low bone mass and deterioration in bone microarchitecture, leading to increased skeletal fragility and fracture risk. The pathophysiology of osteoporosis is multifactorial. It is related to the imbalance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts; reduced bone mass and increased adipogenesis in the bone marrow. Moreover, angiogenesis, inflammatory process and miRNAs have shown effects in the formation of osteoporosis. In the recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been regarded as an excellent choice for cell-based tissue engineering therapy of osteoporosis. Growing evidence showed that paracrine effect has been considered as the predominant mechanism for the role of MSCs in tissue repair. Recently, many studies have proposed that MSCs-derived exosomes are effective for a variety of diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc. However, whether the MSCs-derived exosomes could serve as a novel therapeutic tool for osteoporosis has not clearly described. In this review, we summarize the MSCs-derived exosomes and the relationship with osteogenesis, osteoclast differentiation, angiogenesis, immune processes and miRNAs. Finally, we suggest that MSCs-derived exosomes might be a promising therapeutic method for osteoporosis in the future.