Abstract: The pathological manifestations of osteoarthritis (OA) involve the destruction of articular cartilage, synovial sac thickening, subchondral osteosclerosis and osteophyte formation. The types of cells involved in OA include chondrocytes, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, synovial fibroblasts, T cells, macrophages, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). There are many effects of immune cells in OA, and innate immune cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages have significant roles in the pathogenesis of OA. On the other hand, the role of adaptive immune cells such as T-cell subsets, B-cell subsets, and NK cells is important in OA pathogenesis. MSCs not only play a key role in the dynamic balance and repair of OA tissue but also inhibit the immune system. Therefore, MSCs are a new potential therapeutic agent for OA. This review mainly summarizes the effects of various immune cells and cytokines on different cells in OA to find new effective therapeutic targets for OA therapy based on the immune system and cytokine activity sites to prevent the development of OA.
Keywords: osteoarthritis, immune cells, chondrocytes, mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts