The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (12): 2179-2184.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2026.12.012

• Chronic Disease Control • Previous Articles    

Research progress and translational prospects of plant-derived extracellular vesicles in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Rui WANG1,Shiyu JI1,Feng LUO2,Qiuyi WANG2,Xueming YAO2()   

  1. 1.The Second Clinical Medical College of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Guiyang 550025,Guizhou,China
    2.Department of Rheumatology and Immunology,the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Guiyang 550003,Guizhou,China
  • Received:2026-03-30 Online:2026-06-25 Published:2026-06-30
  • Contact: Xueming YAO E-mail:yxming19@foxmail.com

Abstract:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent synovitis, progressive joint destruction, and multisystem involvement. Although current pharmacotherapies have significantly improved the clinical outcomes of RA, challenges remain, including adverse effects, high economic burden, and inadequate treatment response in some patients. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs), as a novel class of natural nanocarriers, possess the dual attributes of endogenous bioactivity and drug delivery vehicles, offering advantages such as broad availability, convenient preparation, low immunogenicity, and high biosafety. In recent years, research on PDEVs in the treatment of RA has been increasing, and their application value in immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory intervention, and targeted delivery has garnered considerable attention, providing innovative strategies for RA therapy. This review systematically summarizes the structural characteristics, isolation, purification, and characterization methods of PDEVs, with a focus on their research progress and underlying mechanisms in RA treatment, aiming to provide a reference for related basic research and clinical translation.

Key words: rheumatoid arthritis, plant-derived extracellular vesicles, nanodrug delivery system, immunomodulation, drug delivery

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