Importance of stem cell culture conditions for their derived extracellular vesicles therapeutic effect

Exosomes Secreted During Myogenic Differentiation of Human Fetal Cartilage-Derived Progenitor Cells Promote Skeletal Muscle Regeneration through miR-145-5p

BACKGROUND

Currently, there is no apparent treatment for sarcopenia, which is characterized by diminished myoblast function. We aimed to manufacture exosomes that retain the myogenic differentiation capacity of human fetal cartilage-derived progenitor cells (hFCPCs) and investigate their muscle regenerative efficacy in myoblasts and a sarcopenia rat model.

METHODS

The muscle regeneration potential of exosomes (F-Exo) secreted during myogenic differentiation of hFCPCs was compared to human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived (hBMSCs) exosomes (B-Exo) in myoblasts and sarcopenia rat model. The effect of F-Exo was analyzed through known microRNAs (miRNAs) analysis. The mechanism of action of F-Exo was confirmed by measuring the expression of proteins involved in the Wnt signaling pathway.

RESULTS

F-Exo and B-Exo showed similar exosome characteristics. However, F-Exo induced the expression of muscle markers (MyoD, MyoG, and MyHC) and myotube formation in myoblasts more effectively than B-Exo. Moreover, F-Exo induced greater increases in muscle fiber cross-sectional area and muscle mass compared to B-Exo in a sarcopenia rat. The miR-145-5p, relevant to muscle regeneration, was found in high concentrations in the F-Exo, and RNase pretreatment reduced the efficacy of exosomes. The effects of F-Exo on the expression of myogenic markers in myoblasts were paralleled by the miR-145-5p mimics, while the inhibitor partially negated this effect. F-Exo was involved in the Wnt signaling pathway by enhancing the expression of Wnt5a and β-catenin.

CONCLUSION

F-Exo improved muscle regeneration by activating the Wnt signaling pathway via abundant miR-145-5p, mimicking the remarkable myogenic differentiation potential of hFCPCs.

Effectiveness of extracellular vesicles derived from hiPSCs in repairing hyperoxia-induced injury in a fetal murine lung explant model

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in neonatal care, the incidence of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) remains high among preterm infants. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have shown promise in repairing injury in animal BPD models. Evidence suggests they exert their effects via paracrine mechanisms. We aim herein to assess the effectiveness of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from hiPSCs and their alveolar progenies (diPSCs) in attenuating hyperoxic injury in a preterm lung explant model.

METHODS

Murine lung lobes were harvested on embryonic day 17.5 and maintained in air-liquid interface. Following exposure to 95% O2 for 24 h, media was supplemented with 5 × 106 particles/mL of EVs isolated from hiPSCs or diPSCs by size-exclusion chromatography. On day 3, explants were assessed using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining with mean linear intercept (MLI) measurements, immunohistochemistry, VEGFa and antioxidant gene expression. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA and Multiple Comparison Test. EV proteomic profiling was performed, and annotations focused on alveolarization and angiogenesis signaling pathways, as well as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and regenerative pathways.

RESULTS

Exposure of fetal lung explants to hyperoxia induced airspace enlargement, increased MLI, upregulation of anti-oxidants Prdx5 and Nfe2l2 with decreased VEGFa expression. Treatment with hiPSC-EVs improved parenchymal histologic changes. No overt changes in vasculature structure were observed on immunohistochemistry in our in vitro model. However, VEGFa and anti-oxidant genes were upregulated with diPSC-EVs, suggesting a pro-angiogenic and cytoprotective potential. EV proteomic analysis provided new insights in regard to potential pathways influencing lung regeneration.

CONCLUSION

This proof-of-concept in vitro study reveals a potential role for hiPSC- and diPSC-EVs in attenuating lung changes associated with prematurity and oxygen exposure. Our findings pave the way for a novel cell free approach to prevent and/or treat BPD, and ultimately reduce the global burden of the disease.

Therapeutic Applications of Plant-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Antioxidants for Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) composed of a lipid bilayer are released from various cell types, including animals, plants, and microorganisms, and serve as important mediators of cell-to-cell communication. EVs can perform a variety of biological functions through the delivery of bioactive molecules, such as nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins, and can also be utilized as carriers for drug delivery. However, the low productivity and high cost of mammalian-derived EVs (MDEVs) are major barriers to their practical clinical application where large-scale production is essential. Recently, there has been growing interest in plant-derived EVs (PDEVs) that can produce large amounts of electricity at a low cost. In particular, PDEVs contain plant-derived bioactive molecules such as antioxidants, which are used as therapeutic agents to treat various diseases. In this review, we discuss the composition and characteristics of PDEVs and the appropriate methods for their isolation. We also discuss the potential use of PDEVs containing various plant-derived antioxidants as replacements for conventional antioxidants.

Extracellular Vesicles: The Future of Diagnosis in Solid Organ Transplantation?

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is a life-saving treatment for end-stage organ failure, but it comes with several challenges, the most important of which is the existing gap between the need for transplants and organ availability. One of the main concerns in this regard is the lack of accurate non-invasive biomarkers to monitor the status of a transplanted organ. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as a promising source of biomarkers for various diseases. In the context of SOT, EVs have been shown to be involved in the communication between donor and recipient cells and may carry valuable information about the function of an allograft. This has led to an increasing interest in exploring the use of EVs for the preoperative assessment of organs, early postoperative monitoring of graft function, or the diagnosis of rejection, infection, ischemia-reperfusion injury, or drug toxicity. In this review, we summarize recent evidence on the use of EVs as biomarkers for these conditions and discuss their applicability in the clinical setting.

Extracellular Vesicles as Therapeutic Resources in the Clinical Environment

The native role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in mediating the transfer of biomolecules between cells has raised the possibility to use them as therapeutic vehicles. The development of therapies based on EVs is now expanding rapidly; here we will describe the current knowledge on different key points regarding the use of EVs in a clinical setting. These points are related to cell sources of EVs, isolation, storage, and delivery methods, as well as modifications to the releasing cells for improved production of EVs. Finally, we will depict the application of EVs therapies in clinical trials, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of these therapies, pointing out that although it is a promising therapy for human diseases, we are still in the initial phase of its application to patients.

The Double-Edged Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Hallmarks of Aging

The exponential growth in the elderly population and their associated socioeconomic burden have recently brought aging research into the spotlight. To integrate current knowledge and guide potential interventions, nine biochemical pathways are summarized under the term hallmarks of aging. These hallmarks are deeply inter-related and act together to drive the aging process. Altered intercellular communication is particularly relevant since it explains how damage at the cellular level translates into age-related loss of function at the organismal level. As the main effectors of intercellular communication, extracellular vesicles (EVs) might play a key role in the aggravation or mitigation of the hallmarks of aging. This review aims to summarize this role and to provide context for the multiple emerging EV-based gerotherapeutic strategies that are currently under study.

Extracellular Vesicles and Cellular Ageing

Ageing is a complex process characterized by deteriorated performance at multiple levels, starting from cellular dysfunction to organ degeneration. Stem cell-based therapies aim to administrate stem cells that eventually migrate to the injured site to replenish the damaged tissue and recover tissue functionality. Stem cells can be easily obtained and cultured in vitro, and display several qualities such as self-renewal, differentiation, and immunomodulation that make them suitable candidates for stem cell-based therapies. Current animal studies and clinical trials are being performed to assess the safety and beneficial effects of stem cell engraftments for regenerative medicine in ageing and age-related diseases.Since alterations in cell-cell communication have been associated with the development of pathophysiological processes, new research is focusing on the modulation of the microenvironment. Recent research has highlighted the important role of some microenvironment components that modulate cell-cell communication, thus spreading signals from damaged ageing cells to neighbor healthy cells, thereby promoting systemic ageing. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small-rounded vesicles released by almost every cell type. EVs cargo includes several bioactive molecules, such as lipids, proteins, and genetic material. Once internalized by target cells, their specific cargo can induce epigenetic modifications and alter the fate of the recipient cells. Also, EV's content is dependent on the releasing cells, thus, EVs can be used as biomarkers for several diseases. Moreover, EVs have been proposed to be used as cell-free therapies that focus on their administration to slow or even reverse some hallmarks of physiological ageing. It is not surprising that EVs are also under study as next-generation therapies for age-related diseases.

Therapeutic Potential of Extracellular Vesicles in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

Aging is associated with an alteration of intercellular communication. These changes in the extracellular environment contribute to the aging phenotype and have been linked to different aging-related diseases. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are factors that mediate the transmission of signaling molecules between cells. In the aging field, these EVs have been shown to regulate important aging processes, such as oxidative stress or senescence, both in vivo and in vitro. EVs from healthy cells, particularly those coming from stem cells (SCs), have been described as potential effectors of the regenerative potential of SCs. Many studies with different animal models have shown promising results in the field of regenerative medicine. EVs are now viewed as a potential cell-free therapy for tissue damage and several diseases. Here we propose EVs as regulators of the aging process, with an important role in tissue regeneration and a raising therapy for age-related diseases.

Mesenchymal stromal cell extracellular vesicles for multiple sclerosis in preclinical rodent models: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), especially mesenchymal stem (stromal) cell-derived EVs (MSC-EVs), have gained attention as potential novel treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, their effects remain incompletely understood. Thus, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically review the efficacy of MSC-EVs in preclinical rodent models of MS.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science databases up to August 2021 for studies that reported the treatment effects of MSC-EVs in rodent MS models. The clinical score was extracted as an outcome. Articles were peer-reviewed by two authors based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 15.1 and R.

RESULTS

A total of twelve animal studies met the inclusion criteria. In our study, the MSC-EVs had a positive overall effect on the clinical score with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of -2.17 (95% confidence interval (CI)):-3.99 to -0.34, P = 0.01). A significant amount of heterogeneity was observed among the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggests that transplantation of MSC-EVs in MS rodent models improved functional recovery. Additionally, we identified several critical knowledge gaps, such as insufficient standardized dosage units and uncertainty regarding the optimal dose of MSC-EVs transplantation in MS. These gaps must be addressed before clinical trials can begin with MSC-EVs.

Small extracellular vesicles from young adipose-derived stem cells prevent frailty, improve health span, and decrease epigenetic age in old mice

Aging is associated with an increased risk of frailty, disability, and mortality. Strategies to delay the degenerative changes associated with aging and frailty are particularly interesting. We treated old animals with small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) of young animals, and we found an improvement in several parameters usually altered with aging, such as motor coordination, grip strength, fatigue resistance, fur regeneration, and renal function, as well as an important decrease in frailty. ADSC-sEVs induced proregenerative effects and a decrease in oxidative stress, inflammation, and senescence markers in muscle and kidney. Moreover, predicted epigenetic age was lower in tissues of old mice treated with ADSC-sEVs and their metabolome changed to a youth-like pattern. Last, we gained some insight into the microRNAs contained in sEVs that might be responsible for the observed effects. We propose that young sEV treatment can promote healthy aging.

Extracellular Vesicles and Alveolar Epithelial-Capillary Barrier Disruption in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Pathophysiological Role and Therapeutic Potential

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication by transferring genetic material, proteins and organelles between different cells types in both health and disease. Recent evidence suggests that these vesicles, more than simply diagnostic markers, are key mediators of the pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and other lung diseases. In this review, we will discuss the contribution of EVs released by pulmonary structural cells (alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells) and immune cells in these diseases, with particular attention to their ability to modulate inflammation and alveolar-capillary barrier disruption, a hallmark of ARDS. EVs also offer a unique opportunity to develop new therapeutics for the treatment of ARDS. Evidences supporting the ability of stem cell-derived EVs to attenuate the lung injury and ongoing strategies to improve their therapeutic potential are also discussed.