THE USE OF STEM CELLS IN THE TREATMENT OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE INJURIES: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF CURRENT STRATEGIES AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES

Wiktor Werenkowicz; Angelika Adamczyk-Werenkowicz; Tomasz Wiśniewski; Zofia Kosztyła-Czech; Anna Mazur; Marta Kowalska; Gabriela Kapłon; Dominika Gieroba; Anna Kamieniak; Barbara Tomaszek; Aleksandra Blok; Remigiusz Flakus; Kamila Kapłon

doi:10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4841

Authors

Wiktor Werenkowicz Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8487-2426
Angelika Adamczyk-Werenkowicz Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8784-8421
Tomasz Wiśniewski Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7919-8309
Zofia Kosztyła-Czech Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0839-4476
Anna Mazur Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3433-4550
Marta Kowalska Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1397-9102
Gabriela Kapłon Przychodnia Na Biskupinie, Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1985-318X
Dominika Gieroba Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3454-1595
Anna Kamieniak University Clinical Hospital No 4 in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1217-0658
Barbara Tomaszek Samodzielny Publiczny Zakład Opieki Zdrowotnej SPZOZ in Przeworsk, Przeworsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8477-0007
Aleksandra Blok Samodzielny Publiczny Zakład Opieki Zdrowotnej SPZOZ in Przeworsk, Przeworsk, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0813-0366
Remigiusz Flakus Regional Blood Donation and Transfusion Centre in Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7890-3521
Kamila Kapłon Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8355-2742

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4841

Keywords:

Articular Cartilage, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Cartilage Regeneration, Stem Cell Therapy, Scaffold-Based Delivery

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: Articular cartilage lesions represent a major clinical problem because of the cartilage's limited self-healing capability. In this regard, current regenerative medicine approaches emphasize stem cell-based strategies, especially those that employ MSCs, as a hopeful approach toward the repair of cartilage lesions. This review aims to provide an updated synthesis of current strategies, including cellular mechanisms, delivery techniques, and clinical outcomes, with a focus on optimizing MSC-based interventions.

A brief description of the state of knowledge: MSCs from different tissues, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, synovium, and umbilical cord, manifest dissimilar biological behaviours, which influence their therapeutic performances. They promote the repair of damaged cartilage by direct differentiation, immunomodulatory effects, and paracrine signalling. Delivery systems, like intra-articular injections and scaffold-based methods, are being refined to enhance MSC retention, viability, and integration. Preclinical models confirm their regenerative capacity, while early clinical trials have shown safety and functional improvement. However, cell heterogeneity, hypertrophic differentiation, and inflammatory environments in joints are some issues yet to be overcome.

Conclusions: Stem cell therapies, with MSCs in particular, hold immense potential for the regeneration of articular cartilage. Although present results are encouraging, additional studies should be conducted to standardize treatment protocols, improve cell sources and delivery systems, and establish long-term clinical efficacy.

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