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Zhang K, Zheng S, Wu J, He J, Ouyang Y, Ao C, Lang R, Jiang Y, Yang Y, Xiao H, Li Y, Li M, Wang H, Li C, Wu D. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes ameliorate renal fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy by targeting Hedgehog/SMO signaling. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23599. [PMID: 38572590 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202302324r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease globally. Currently, there are no effective drugs for the treatment of DN. Although several studies have reported the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report that both human umbilical cord MSCs (UC-MSCs) and UC-MSC-derived exosomes (UC-MSC-exo) attenuate kidney damage, and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and renal fibrosis in streptozotocin-induced DN rats. Strikingly, the Hedgehog receptor, smoothened (SMO), was significantly upregulated in the kidney tissues of DN patients and rats, and positively correlated with EMT and renal fibrosis. UC-MSC and UC-MSC-exo treatment resulted in decrease of SMO expression. In vitro co-culture experiments revealed that UC-MSC-exo reduced EMT of tubular epithelial cells through inhibiting Hedgehog/SMO pathway. Collectively, UC-MSCs inhibit EMT and renal fibrosis by delivering exosomes and targeting Hedgehog/SMO signaling, suggesting that UC-MSCs and their exosomes are novel anti-fibrotic therapeutics for treating DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuo Zheng
- R&D Center, Wuhan Hamilton Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiasheng Wu
- The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jing He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Ouyang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunchun Ao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruibo Lang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yijia Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yifan Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Xiao
- School of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Li
- School of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mao Li
- School of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiming Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Changyong Li
- Department of Physiology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science & Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Dongcheng Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
- R&D Center, Wuhan Hamilton Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Wuhan, China
- R&D Center, Guangzhou Hamilton Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
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