Exercise May Protect Aging Cartilage Through Circulating Molecular Signals .

Why does exercise appear to protect osteoarthritic joints? Research from Mass General Brigham combined human exercise data with cell and animal experiments to examine circulating extracellular vesicles. After moderate aerobic training, these vesicles carried molecular changes associated with healthier cartilage, with microRNA-29 emerging as an important mediator. The work offers a biological explanation for exercise-related joint protection and could eventually inform therapies that mimic some benefits of exercise for patients unable to achieve sufficient activity.