2024, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (2): 280-287

Effects of immune cells and related cytokines in the pathogenesis and treatment of osteoarthritis

Meng Zhicheng1, Qiao Weiping2, Zhao Yang1, Liu Hongfei1, Li Kaijie2, Ma Bo2   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The occurrence and development of osteoarthritis is strongly associated with immune abnormalities, and the importance of various immune cells and immune mediators in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis has been continuously elucidated.  
OBJECTIVE: To review the role of immune cells and related cytokines in osteoarthritis disease, and provide new ideas for future research and prevention of osteoarthritis.
METHODS: Taking “osteoarthritis, knee, macrophages, T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, dendritic cells, cytokines, inflammatory factors, immune cells” as search terms, relevant published literature was searched on CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed and Web of Science databases. After reading the title and abstract for preliminary screening, 98 articles were selected for review after reading the full text again.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the past, it was believed that the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis was associated with cartilage wear. In recent years, studies have suggested that osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory state in which immune cells are widely involved. With the in-depth study of the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, scholars believe that the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is driven by early innate immune response, which will gradually catalyze degenerative changes and eventually lead to changes in the joint microenvironment. Various immune cells and cytokines are the key factors affecting the repair of osteoarthritis. Macrophages and natural killer cells participate in synovial inflammatory reaction, and T cell immune reaction participates in the degradation of osteoarthritis cartilage and aggravates the condition of osteoarthritis. Interleukin-1β secreted by immune cells, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-17 and interleukin-37 play an important role in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis, among which interleukin-1β is the most important inflammatory factor causing articular cartilage damage. Assessing immunological risk factors at the early stage of osteoarthritis can effectively treat the disease at an early stage, which can significantly reduce disability, morbidity and costs associated with osteoarthritis. At present, the immunomodulatory effect of stem cells and their derived secretions and biomaterials on the treatment of osteoarthritis has been confirmed in different experimental models, but there is still a lot of research to be done before they are used in clinical practice. With the discovery of new therapeutic targets, targeted treatment will bring new hope for the repair of clinical osteoarthritis.

Key words: osteoarthritis, macrophage, T cell, B cell, natural killer cell, dendritic cell, immune cell, review