Fig. 2
From: Mesenchymal stromal cell-based therapy for cartilage regeneration in knee osteoarthritis
The functions of injections of MSCs or MSCs-derived exosomes. MSCs can protect cartilage by differentiation into chondrocyte lineages, affecting the chondrocytes, mediating mitochondrial function, regulating cytokines, balancing the synthesis and catabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM), modifying immune reactions, and paracrine activity that might be involved with the secreted exosomes. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that include lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. MSCs: mesenchymal stromal cells, ECM: extracellular matrix