Advances in the Mechanism of Cartilage Formation Mediated by CD90 (THY-1) through Membrane Lipid Raft Homeostasis

Cartilage regeneration is a key research area in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and the unique structure of cartilage poses challenges for its repair. Currently, there is a significant lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms of chondrogenic differentiation, necessitating further exploration. Membrane lipid rafts are dynamic microdomains in the cell membrane, enriched with cholesterol and sphingolipids, serving as critical platforms for signal transduction and participating in protein distribution and regulation of cellular functions. CD90 (THY-1) is a glycoprotein anchored to lipid rafts through glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI), widely expressed on the surface of cells such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and regulates cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation. Recent studies have revealed a synergistic role of lipid raft homeostasis and CD90 in the process of cartilage formation, regulating the repair and regeneration of articular cartilage. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which lipid rafts and CD90 contribute to cartilage formation, with a focus on their core roles in signaling pathway regulation and their effects on chondrogenic differentiation. Furthermore, it highlights their potential applications in cartilage tissue engineering.