Lu JS, Zhao YH, Mu FY, Song CY, Yang M, Huang YS, Wang KY. Mitochondrial regulation of stem cell osteogenic differentiation: A key driver for bone regeneration. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(11): 113032 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i11.113032]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Kai-Yang Wang, MD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China. ortho_wang@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Orthopedics
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Nov 26, 2025 (publication date) through Nov 26, 2025
Times Cited of This Article
Times Cited (0)
Journal Information of This Article
Publication Name
World Journal of Stem Cells
ISSN
1948-0210
Publisher of This Article
Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
Share the Article
Lu JS, Zhao YH, Mu FY, Song CY, Yang M, Huang YS, Wang KY. Mitochondrial regulation of stem cell osteogenic differentiation: A key driver for bone regeneration. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(11): 113032 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i11.113032]
World J Stem Cells. Nov 26, 2025; 17(11): 113032 Published online Nov 26, 2025. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i11.113032
Mitochondrial regulation of stem cell osteogenic differentiation: A key driver for bone regeneration
Jing-Shun Lu, Yun-Hong Zhao, Fei-Yan Mu, Chen-Yu Song, Min Yang, Yuan-Sheng Huang, Kai-Yang Wang
Jing-Shun Lu, Yuan-Sheng Huang, Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Yijishan Hospital, Wuhu 241000, Anhui Province, China
Yun-Hong Zhao, Fei-Yan Mu, Southern Central Hospital of Yunnan Province, The First People’s Hospital of Honghe State, Mengzi 661100, Yunnan Province, China
Chen-Yu Song, Kai-Yang Wang, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
Min Yang, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Meilong Community Health Service Center of Minhang District, Shanghai 200233, China
Author contributions: Lu JS wrote and edited the manuscript; Song CY, Yang M, and Huang YS contributed to review and edit; Zhao YH and Mu FY reviewed this paper; Wang KY conceived, reviewed, and revised this paper.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Kai-Yang Wang, MD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China. ortho_wang@163.com
Received: August 13, 2025 Revised: September 21, 2025 Accepted: November 12, 2025 Published online: November 26, 2025 Processing time: 105 Days and 7.7 Hours
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stromal cells that serve as progenitors for connective tissue and have emerged as a crucial resource in the field of tissue engineering owing to their capacity to differentiate into multiple cell lineages. MSCs-based bone regeneration strategies hold immense therapeutic potential, yet their efficacy is critically limited by inefficient osteogenic differentiation. Mounting evidence positions mitochondria as central regulators of this process, extending beyond their traditional role as cellular powerhouses. Mitochondrial regulation not only influences the induction rate of MSCs differentiation, but also determines the differentiation pathway and the ultimate fate of the resulting cells. To date, research in bone regeneration engineering has predominantly focused on the application of stem cell-based biomaterials, with limited attention given to mitochondrial development. We aim to provide a novel research perspective for targeted mitochondrial interventions in bone regeneration engineering by elucidating the mechanisms through which mitochondria regulate osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.
Core Tip: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold promise for bone regeneration, but their potential is limited by poor osteogenic differentiation. Mitochondria play a pivotal role in bone defect repair, where their functions in energy metabolism, oxidative stress, dynamics, and mitophagy significantly regulate the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. This work elucidated the mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of mitochondrial-targeted interventions to enhance MSC osteogenic differentiation, providing novel perspectives for developing mitochondria-focused bone regenerative medicine.
