Zuping Wu, Yuzhe Guan, Ruifeng Song, Peng Chen, Xinyi Fang, Qian Chen, Xiaoyan Chen
Disruptions in bone tissue metabolic balance can lead to osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and bone tumors. This disruption typically manifests as reduced or abnormal bone mass, accompanied by pathological changes such as inflammation, fractures, and pain. Recent studies have revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction is prevalent in the aforementioned pathological processes, participating in the regulation of bone tissue cell function and intracellular immune function. Mitochondrial transfer, a newly discovered physiological phenomenon in recent years, can regulate mitochondrial function within recipient cells, thereby influencing metabolic activities, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune function of various bone tissue cells. This article primarily reviews the regulatory effects of mitochondrial transfer associated with MSCs on various cells in bone and joint tissues. Given the role of mitochondrial transfer in regulating bone metabolism, we elucidate the application of mitochondrial transfer therapy in the treatment of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other bone tissue diseases. The Translational Potential of this Article: This review elaborates in detail on the therapeutic strategies provided by mitochondrial transplantation technology or targeted mitochondrial delivery systems for the treatment of bone tissue diseases, based on the occurrence of mitochondrial transfer in bone tissue tips and its therapeutic effects on related diseases such as OA, RA, osteoporosis.