# The Role of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells and Their Extracellular Vesicles in Rheumatoid Arthritis

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how mesenchymal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles may help treat rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of the therapeutic potential of MSCs and their extracellular vesicles in rheumatoid arthritis.

## Key findings

- MSCs have shown therapeutic effects in preclinical and clinical studies of rheumatoid arthritis.
- MSCs primarily act through paracrine mechanisms, leading to interest in their extracellular vesicles.
- Understanding MSC and MSC-EV mechanisms could lead to new treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis.

## Abstract

There is presently no cure for the chronic inflammatory disease rheumatoid
arthritis (RA), which affects the joints and other organs. Mesenchymal
stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that are widely studied in
inflammatory diseases. Several studies have shown the therapeutic effects of
MSCs in preclinical and clinical RA. However, there are a few concerns regarding
the use of MSCs, such as immune rejection and malignancy. Since MSCs exert their
potential effects in a paracrine manner, more attention has been paid to their
extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs). In the current study, we reviewed the
application of MSCs and their EVs in RA. A better understanding of the
mechanisms driving MSC and MSC-EVs in RA offers insight into possible treatment
options for RA.