Engineering Extracellular Matrix-Bound Nanovesicles Secreted by Three-Dimensional Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Identification of cytokines in benign and malignant thymus tumors: based on Mendelian randomization and proteomics

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify potential causal cytokines in thymic malignancies and benign tumors from the FinnGen database using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods

In this study, data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of 91 cytokines were used as exposure factors, and those of thymic malignant tumors and thymic benign tumors were the outcome variables. Two methods were used to determine the causal relationship between exposure factors and outcome variables: inverse variance weighting (IVW) and MR-Egger regression. Sensitivity analysis was performed using three methods, namely, the heterogeneity test, the pleiotropy test, and the leave-one-out test.

Results

There was a causal relationship between the expression of fibroblast growth factor 5, which is a risk factor for thymic malignant tumors, and thymic malignant tumors. C-C motif chemokine 19 expression, T-cell surface glycoprotein CD5 levels, and interleukin-12 subunit beta levels were causally related to thymic malignant tumors and were protective. Adenosine deaminase levels, interleukin-10 receptor subunit beta expression, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand levels, and TNF-related activation-induced cytokine levels showed a causal relationship with thymic benign tumors, which are its risk factors. Caspase 8 levels, C-C motif chemokine 28 levels, interleukin-12 subunit beta levels, latency-associated peptide transforming growth factor beta 1 levels, and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 expression showed a causal relationship with thymic benign tumors, which are protective factors. Sensitivity analysis showed no heterogeneity.

Conclusion

Cytokines showed a causal relationship with benign and malignant thymic tumors. Interleukin-12 subunit beta is a common cytokine that affects malignant and benign thymic tumors.

Organoid extracellular vesicle-based therapeutic strategies for bone therapy

With the rapid development of population ageing, bone-related diseases seriously affecting the life of the elderly. Over the past few years, organoids, cell clusters with specific functions and structures that are self-induced from stem cells after three-dimensional culture in vitro, have been widely used for bone therapy. Moreover, organoid extracellular vesicles (OEVs) have emerging as promising cell-free nanocarriers due to their vigoroso physiological effects, significant biological functions, stable loading capacity, and great biocompatibility. In this review, we first provide a comprehensive overview of biogenesis, internalisation, isolation, and characterisation of OEVs. We then comprehensively highlight the differences between OEVs and traditional EVs. Subsequently, we present the applications of natural OEVs in disease treatment. We also summarise the engineering modifications of OEVs, including engineering parental cells and engineering OEVs after isolation. Moreover, we provide an outlook on the potential of natural and engineered OEVs in bone-related diseases. Finally, we critically discuss the advantages and challenges of OEVs in the treatment of bone diseases. We believe that a comprehensive discussion of OEVs will provide more innovative and efficient solutions for complex bone diseases.