Pathological and therapeutic effects of extracellular vesicles in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases

Extracellular vesicles are released by all cell types and contain proteins,microRNAs,mRNAs,and other bioactive molecules.Extracellular vesicles play an important role in intercellular communication and in the modulation of the immune system and neuroinflammation.The cargo of extra cellular vesicles(e.g.,proteins and microRNAs)is altered in pathological situations.Extracellular vesicles contribute to the pathogenesis of many pathologies associated with sustained inflammation and neuroinflammation,including cance r,diabetes,hype rammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy,and other neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.Extracellular vesicles may cross the blood-brain barrier and transfer pathological signals from the periphery to the brain.This contributes to inducing neuroinflammation and cognitive and motor impairment in hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy and in neurodegenerative diseases.The mechanisms involved are beginning to be unde rstood.For example,increased tumor necrosis factor a in extracellular vesicles from plasma of hype rammonemic rats induces neuroinflammation and motor impairment when injected into normal rats.Identifying the mechanisms by which extracellular vesicles contribute to the pathogenesis of these diseases will help to develop new treatments and diagnostic tools for their easy and early detection.In contrast,extra cellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells have therapeutic utility in many of the above pathologies,by reducing inflammation and neuroinflammation and improving cognitive and motor function.These extra cellular vesicles recapitulate the beneficial effects of mesenchymal stem cells and have advantages as therapeutic tools:they are less immunoge nic,may not diffe rentiate to malignant cells,cross the blood-brain barrier,and may reach more easily target organs.Extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells have beneficial effects in models of ischemic brain injury,Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases,hyperammonemia,and hepatic encephalopathy.Extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells modulate the immune system,promoting the shift from a pro-inflammato ry to an anti-inflammatory state.For example,extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells modulate the Th17/Treg balance,promoting the anti-inflammatory Treg.Extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells may also act directly in the brain to modulate microglia activation,promoting a shift from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state.This reduces neuroinflammation and improves cognitive and motor function.Two main components of extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells which contribute to these beneficial effects are transforming growth factor-βand miR-124.Identifying the mechanisms by which extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells induce the beneficial effects and the main molecules(e.g.,proteins and mRNAs)involved may help to improve their therapeutic utility.The aims of this review are to summarize the knowledge of the pathological effects of extracellular vesicles in different pathologies,the therapeutic potential of extra cellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells to recover cognitive and motor function and the molecular mechanisms for these beneficial effects on neurological function.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles as a cell-free therapy for traumatic brain injury via neuroprotection and neurorestoration

Traumatic brain injury is a serious and complex neurological condition that affects millions of people worldwide.Despite significant advancements in the field of medicine,effective treatments for traumatic brain injury remain limited.Recently,extracellular vesicles released from mesenchymal stem/stromal cells have emerged as a promising novel therapy for traumatic brain injury.Extracellular vesicles are small membrane-bound vesicles that are naturally released by cells,including those in the brain,and can be engineered to contain therapeutic cargo,such as anti-inflammatory molecules,growth factors,and microRNAs.When administered intravenously,extra cellular vesicles can cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver their cargos to the site of injury,where they can be taken up by recipient cells and modulate the inflammatory response,promote neuroregeneration,and improve functional outcomes.In preclinical studies,extracellular vesicle-based therapies have shown promising results in promoting recove ry after traumatic brain injury,including reducing neuronal damage,improving cognitive function,and enhancing motor recovery.While further research is needed to establish the safety and efficacy of extra cellular vesicle-based therapies in humans,extra cellular vesicles represent a promising novel approach for the treatment of traumatic brain injury.In this review,we summarize mesenchymal ste m/stromal cell-de rived extracellular vesicles as a cell-free therapy for traumatic brain injury via neuroprotection and neurorestoration and brainderived extracellular vesicles as potential biofluid biomarkers in small and large animal models of traumatic brain injury.

Small extracellular vesicles from hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells attenuate spinal cord injury via miR-146a-5p-mediated regulation of macrophage polarization

Spinal cord injury is a disabling condition with limited treatment options.Multiple studies have provided evidence suggesting that small extracellular vesicles(SEVs)secreted by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)help mediate the beneficial effects conferred by MSC transplantation following spinal cord injury.Strikingly,hypoxia-preconditioned bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived SEVs(HSEVs)exhibit increased therapeutic potency.We thus explored the role of HSEVs in macrophage immune regulation after spinal cord injury in rats and their significance in spinal cord repair.SEVs or HSEVs were isolated from bone marrow MSC supernatants by density gradient ultracentrifugation.HSEV administration to rats via tail vein injection after spinal cord injury reduced the lesion area and attenuated spinal cord inflammation.HSEVs regulate macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype in vivo and in vitro.Micro RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses of SEVs and HSEVs revealed that mi R-146a-5p is a potent mediator of macrophage polarization that targets interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1.Reducing mi R-146a-5p expression in HSEVs partially attenuated macrophage polarization.Our data suggest that HSEVs attenuate spinal cord inflammation and injury in rats by transporting mi R-146a-5p,which alters macrophage polarization.This study provides new insights into the application of HSEVs as a therapeutic tool for spinal cord injury.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles in skin wound healing:roles,opportunities and challenges

Skin wounds are characterized by injury to the skin due to trauma,tearing,cuts,or contusions.As such injuries are common to all human groups,they may at times represent a serious socioeconomic burden.Currently,increasing numbers of studies have focused on the role of mesenchymal stem cell(MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles(EVs)in skin wound repair.As a cell-free therapy,MSC-derived EVs have shown significant application potential in the field of wound repair as a more stable and safer option than conventional cell therapy.Treatment based on MSC-derived EVs can significantly promote the repair of damaged substructures,including the regeneration of vessels,nerves,and hair follicles.In addition,MSC-derived EVs can inhibit scar formation by affecting angiogenesis-related and antifibrotic pathways in promoting macrophage polarization,wound angiogenesis,cell proliferation,and cell migration,and by inhibiting excessive extracellular matrix production.Additionally,these structures can serve as a scaffold for components used in wound repair,and they can be developed into bioengineered EVs to support trauma repair.Through the formulation of standardized culture,isolation,purification,and drug delivery strategies,exploration of the detailed mechanism of EVs will allow them to be used as clinical treatments for wound repair.In conclusion,MSCderived EV-based therapies have important application prospects in wound repair.Here we provide a comprehensive overview of their current status,application potential,and associated drawbacks.

Utilizing engineered extracellular vesicles as delivery vectors in the management of ischemic stroke:a special outlook on mitochondrial delivery

Ischemic stroke is a secondary cause of mortality worldwide,imposing considerable medical and economic burdens on society.Extracellular vesicles,serving as natural nanocarriers for drug delivery,exhibit excellent biocompatibility in vivo and have significant advantages in the management of ischemic stroke.However,the uncertain distribution and rapid clearance of extracellular vesicles impede their delivery efficiency.By utilizing membrane decoration or by encapsulating therapeutic cargo within extracellular vesicles,their delivery efficacy may be greatly improved.Furthermore,previous studies have indicated that microvesicles,a subset of large-sized extracellular vesicles,can transport mitochondria to neighboring cells,thereby aiding in the restoration of mitochondrial function post-ischemic stroke.Small extracellular vesicles have also demonstrated the capability to transfer mitochondrial components,such as proteins or deoxyribonucleic acid,or their sub-components,for extracellular vesicle-based ischemic stroke therapy.In this review,we undertake a comparative analysis of the isolation techniques employed for extracellular vesicles and present an overview of the current dominant extracellular vesicle modification methodologies.Given the complex facets of treating ischemic stroke,we also delineate various extracellular vesicle modification approaches which are suited to different facets of the treatment process.Moreover,given the burgeoning interest in mitochondrial delivery,we delved into the feasibility and existing research findings on the transportation of mitochondrial fractions or intact mitochondria through small extracellular vesicles and microvesicles to offer a fresh perspective on ischemic stroke therapy.

Small extracellular vesicles derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell-differentiated neural progenitor cells mitigate retinal ganglion cell degeneration in a mouse model of optic nerve injury

Several studies have found that transplantation of neural progenitor cells(NPCs)promotes the survival of injured neurons.However,a poor integration rate and high risk of tumorigenicity after cell transplantation limits their clinical application.Small extracellular vesicles(sEVs)contain bioactive molecules for neuronal protection and regeneration.Previous studies have shown that stem/progenitor cell-derived sEVs can promote neuronal survival and recovery of neurological function in neurodegenerative eye diseases and other eye diseases.In this study,we intravitreally transplanted sEVs derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs)and hiPSCs-differentiated NPCs(hiPSC-NPC)in a mouse model of optic nerve crush.Our results show that these intravitreally injected sEVs were ingested by retinal cells,especially those localized in the ganglion cell layer.Treatment with hiPSC-NPC-derived sEVs mitigated optic nerve crush-induced retinal ganglion cell degeneration,and regulated the retinal microenvironment by inhibiting excessive activation of microglia.Component analysis further revealed that hiPSC-NPC derived sEVs transported neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory miRNA cargos to target cells,which had protective effects on RGCs after optic nerve injury.These findings suggest that sEVs derived from hiPSC-NPC are a promising cell-free therapeutic strategy for optic neuropathy.

Small extracellular vesicles derived from cerebral endothelial cells with elevated microRNA 27a promote ischemic stroke recovery

Axonal remodeling is a critical aspect of ischemic brain repair processes and contributes to spontaneous functional recovery.Our previous in vitro study demonstrated that exosomes/small extracellular vesicles(sEVs)isolated from cerebral endothelial cells(CEC-sEVs)of ischemic brain promote axonal growth of embryonic cortical neurons and that microRNA 27a(miR-27a)is an elevated miRNA in ischemic CEC-sEVs.In the present study,we investigated whether normal CEC-sEVs engineered to enrich their levels of miR-27a(27a-sEVs)further enhance axonal growth and improve neurological outcomes after ischemic stroke when compared with treatment with non-engineered CEC-sEVs.27a-sEVs were isolated from the conditioned medium of healthy mouse CECs transfected with a lentiviral miR-27a expression vector.Small EVs isolated from CECs transfected with a scramble vector(Scra-sEVs)were used as a control.Adult male mice were subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion and then were randomly treated with 27a-sEVs or Scra-sEVs.An array of behavior assays was used to measure neurological function.Compared with treatment of ischemic stroke with Scra-sEVs,treatment with 27a-sEVs significantly augmented axons and spines in the peri-infarct zone and in the corticospinal tract of the spinal grey matter of the denervated side,and significantly improved neurological outcomes.In vitro studies demonstrated that CEC-sEVs carrying reduced miR-27a abolished 27a-sEV-augmented axonal growth.Ultrastructural analysis revealed that 27a-sEVs systemically administered preferentially localized to the pre-synaptic active zone,while quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot analysis showed elevated miR-27a,and reduced axonal inhibitory proteins Semaphorin 6A and Ras Homolog Family Member A in the peri-infarct zone.Blockage of the Clathrin-dependent endocytosis pathway substantially reduced neuronal internalization of 27a-sEVs.Our data provide evidence that 27a-sEVs have a therapeutic effect on stroke recovery by promoting axonal remodeling and improving neurological outcomes.Our findings also suggest that suppression of axonal inhibitory proteins such as Semaphorin 6A may contribute to the beneficial effect of 27a-sEVs on axonal remodeling.

tRNA^(Glu)-derived fragments from embryonic extracellular vesicles modulate bovine embryo hatching

Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs(tsRNAs)have been shown to be involved in early embryo development and repression of endogenous retroelements in embryos and stem cells.However,it is unknown whether tsRNAs also regulate embryo hatching.In this study,we mined the sequencing data of a previous experiment in which we demonstrated that the microRNA(miRNA)cargo of preimplantation embryonic extracellular vesicles(EVs)influences embryo development.We thus profiled the tsRNA cargo of EVs secreted by blastocysts and non-blastocysts.The majority of tsRNAs was identified as tRNA halves originating from the 5'ends of tRNAs.Among the 148 differentially expressed tsRNAs,the 19 nt tRNA fragment(tRF)tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 was found to be significantly up-regulated in EVs derived from non-blastocysts.RT-qPCR assays confirmed its significant up-regulation in non-blastocyst embryos and their conditioned medium compared to the blastocyst group(P<0.05).Inhibition of tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 by supplementing antagomirs to the conditioned medium improved embryo hatching(P<0.05).Transcriptomic analysis of embryos treated with tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 antagomirs further showed differential expression of genes that are associated with embryo hatching and implantation.In summary,tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 is up-regulated in non-blastocyst embryos and their secretions,and inhibition of tDR-14:32-Glu-CTC-1 promotes embryo hatching,while influencing embryo implantation-related genes and pathways.These results indicate that embryonic EVs containing specific tRFs may regulate preimplantation embryo development.

The emerging role of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to ameliorate hippocampal NLRP3 inflammation induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescence

Our previous studies have reported that activation of the NLRP3(NOD-,LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3)-inflammasome complex in ethanol-treated astrocytes and chronic alcohol-fed mice could be associated with neuroinflammation and brain damage.Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles(MSC-EVs)have been shown to restore the neuroinflammatory response,along with myelin and synaptic structural alterations in the prefrontal cortex,and alleviate cognitive and memory dysfunctions induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescent mice.Considering the therapeutic role of the molecules contained in mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles,the present study analyzed whether the administration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles isolated from adipose tissue,which inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome,was capable of reducing hippocampal neuroinflammation in adolescent mice treated with binge drinking.We demonstrated that the administration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorated the activation of the hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome complex and other NLRs inflammasomes(e.g.,pyrin domain-containing 1,caspase recruitment domain-containing 4,and absent in melanoma 2,as well as the alterations in inflammatory genes(interleukin-1β,interleukin-18,inducible nitric oxide synthase,nuclear factor-kappa B,monocyte chemoattractant protein-1,and C–X3–C motif chemokine ligand 1)and miRNAs(miR-21a-5p,miR-146a-5p,and miR-141-5p)induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescent mice.Bioinformatic analysis further revealed the involvement of miR-21a-5p and miR-146a-5p with inflammatory target genes and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways.Taken together,these findings provide novel evidence of the therapeutic potential of MSC-derived EVs to ameliorate the hippocampal neuroinflammatory response associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by binge drinking in adolescence.

Extracellular vesicles and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in COVID-19 disease

Extracellular vesicles(EVs)are membranous vesicular structures released from almost all eukaryotic cell types under different physiological or pathological conditions.Growing evidence demonstrates that EVs can serve as mediators of intercellular communication between donor and recipient cells or microorganism-infected and noninfected cells.Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)disease is caused by infection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)of host cells in the respiratory system and various extra-pulmonary tissue/organs,resulting in complications of multiple organ systems.As the cell surface receptor,angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)mediates cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the host cells in patients with COVID-19.Recent studies have found that ACE2 can be released with EVs,which have been shown to interfere with the entry of the virus into host cells and thus may be involved in COVID-19 pathophysiology.In addition,ACE2,neprilysin(NEP),and thimet oligopeptidase(TOP)are the key enzymes that regulate angiotensin metabolism by converting angiotensin II or angiotensin I to angiotensin 1-7,the latter of which has protective effects in counterbalancing the harmful effects of angiotensin II in COVID-19 disease.This review summarizes the recent research progress regarding EV-associated ACE2,NEP,and TOP and the perspectives of their potential involvement in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease.

Mesenchymal stem cells-extracellular vesicles alleviate pulmonary fibrosis by regulating immunomodulators

BACKGROUND Pulmonary fibrosis(PF)is a chronic interstitial lung disease characterized by fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix formation,causing structural damage and lung failure.Stem cell therapy and mesenchymal stem cells-extracellular vesicles(MSC-EVs)offer new hope for PF treatment.AIM To investigate the therapeutic potential of MSC-EVs in alleviating fibrosis,oxidative stress,and immune inflammation in A549 cells and bleomycin(BLM)-induced mouse model.METHODS The effect of MSC-EVs on A549 cells was assessed by fibrosis markers[collagen I andα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),oxidative stress regulators[nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1),and inflammatory regu-lators[nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB)p65,interleukin(IL)-1β,and IL-2].Similarly,they were assessed in the lungs of mice where PF was induced by BLM after MSC-EV transfection.MSC-EVs ion PF mice were detected by pathological staining and western blot.Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to investigate the effects of the MSC-EVs on gene expression profiles of macrophages after modeling in mice.RESULTS Transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 enhanced fibrosis in A549 cells,significantly increasing collagen I andα-SMA levels.Notably,treatment with MSC-EVs demonstrated a remarkable alleviation of these effects.Similarly,the expression of oxidative stress regulators,such as Nrf2 and HO-1,along with inflammatory regulators,including NF-κB p65 and IL-1β,were mitigated by MSC-EV treatment.Furthermore,in a parallel manner,MSC-EVs exhibited a downregulatory impact on collagen deposition,oxidative stress injuries,and inflammatory-related cytokines in the lungs of mice with PF.Additionally,the mRNA sequencing results suggested that BLM may induce PF in mice by upregulating pulmonary collagen fiber deposition and triggering an immune inflammatory response.The findings collectively highlight the potential therapeutic efficacy of MSC-EVs in ameliorating fibrotic processes,oxidative stress,and inflammatory responses associated with PF.CONCLUSION MSC-EVs could ameliorate fibrosis in vitro and in vivo by downregulating collagen deposition,oxidative stress,and immune-inflammatory responses.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid enhances miR-21-5p loading into adipose-derived stem cell extracellular vesicles to alleviate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via TXNIP regulation

BACKGROUND Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI)poses a prevalent challenge in current reperfusion therapies,with an absence of efficacious interventions to address the underlying causes.AIM To investigate whether the extracellular vesicles(EVs)secreted by adipose mesenchymal stem cells(ADSCs)derived from subcutaneous inguinal adipose tissue(IAT)underγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)induction(GABA-EVs^(IAT))demonstrate a more pronounced inhibitory effect on mitochondrial oxidative stress and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.METHODS We investigated the potential protective effects of EVs derived from mouse ADSCs pretreated with GABA.We assessed cardiomyocyte injury using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling and Annexin V/propidium iodide assays.The integrity of cardiomyocyte mitochondria morphology was assessed using electron microscopy across various intervention backgrounds.To explore the functional RNA diversity between EVs^(IAT)and GABA-EVs^(IAT),we employed microRNA(miR)sequencing.Through a dual-luciferase reporter assay,we confirmed the molecular mechanism by which EVs mediate thioredoxin-interacting protein(TXNIP).Western blotting and immunofluorescence were conducted to determine how TXNIP is involved in mediation of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.RESULTS Our study demonstrates that,under the influence of GABA,ADSCs exhibit an increased capacity to encapsulate a higher abundance of miR-21-5p within EVs.Consequently,this leads to a more pronounced inhibitory effect on mitochondrial oxidative stress compared to EVs from ADSCs without GABA intervention,ultimately resulting in myocardial protection.On a molecular mechanism level,EVs regulate the expression of TXNIP and mitigating excessive oxidative stress in mitochondria during MIRI process to rescue cardiomyocytes.CONCLUSION Administration of GABA leads to the specific loading of miR-21-5p into EVs by ADSCs,thereby regulating the expression of TXNIP.The EVs derived from ADSCs treated with GABA effectively ameliorates mitochondrial oxidative stress and mitigates cardiomyocytes damage in the pathological process of MIRI.

Contribution of extracellular vesicles to steatosis-related liver disease and their therapeutic potential

Extracellular vesicles(EVs)are small particles released by many cell types in different tissues,including the liver,and transfer specific cargo molecules from originating cells to receptor cells.This process generally culminates in activation of distant cells and inflammation and progression of certain diseases.The global chronic liver disease(CLD)epidemic is estimated at 1.5 billion patients world-wide.Cirrhosis and liver cancer are the most common risk factors for CLD.However,hepatitis C and B virus infection and obesity are also highly associated with CLD.Nonetheless,the etiology of many CLD pathophysiological,cellular,and molecular events are unclear.Changes in hepatic lipid metabolism can lead to lipotoxicity events that induce EV release.Here,we aimed to present an overview of EV features,from definition to types and biogenesis,with particular focus on the molecules related to steatosis-related liver disease,diagnosis,and therapy.

Extracellular Vesicles from Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (imEVs) Improve Cold Preservation of Isolated Mitochondria

Mitochondrial organelle transplantation (MOT) is an innovative strategy for the treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction such as cardiac ischemic reperfusion injuries, Parkinson’s diseases, brain and spinal cord injuries, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, one of the major challenges for widespread usage is a methodology for preservation of isolated mitochondria. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are phospholipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles released from cells. EVs carry a cargo of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, metabolites, and even organelles such as mitochondria. Purpose: To test if EVs enhance the stability of isolated mitochondria. Methods: We mixed isolated mitochondria of fibroblasts with EVs of mesenchymal stromal cells (imEVs) (9:1 in volume) and stored the mixture at 2°C - 6°C for different time periods. We measured morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial ATP content at 0, 2, 5 days. Key findings: After 2 days of storage, the mito-chondria without imEVs lost approximate 70% MMP (RFU: 1822 ± 68), compared to the fresh mitochondria (RFU: 5458 ± 52) (p 0.05). In agreement with MMP, mitochondria without imEVs lost significant mitochondrial ATP content (p 0.05), after 2 days of cold storage, compared to fresh mitochondria. Microscopy showed that imEVs promoted aggregation of isolated mitochondria. Summary: The preliminary data showed that imEVs enhanced the stability of isolated mitochondria in cold storage.

Neuroprotective effect of mesenchymal stem cellderived extracellular vesicles on optic nerve injury in chronic ocular hypertension

Mesenchymal stem cells have neuroprotective effects that limit damage to the retina and photoreceptors,and which may be mediated by extracellular vesicles(or exosomes)released by mesenchymal stem cells.To investigate the neuroprotective effect of extracellular vesicles derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on glaucoma,we established rat models of chronic ocular hypertension by injecting conjunctival fibroblasts into the anterior chamber to mimic optic nerve injury caused by glaucoma.One week after injury,extracellular vesicles derived from umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells were injected into the vitreous cavity.We found that extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells substantially reduced retinal damage,increased the number of retinal ganglion cells,and inhibited the activation of caspase-3.These findings suggest that mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles can help alleviate optic nerve injury caused by chronic ocular hypertension,and this effect is achieved by inhibiting cell apoptosis.

Mesenchymal stem cells,extracellular vesicles,and transcranial magnetic stimulation for ferroptosis after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury is characte rized by diffe rent aetiologies,complex pathogenesis,and diverse pathological changes.Current treatments are not ideal,and prognosis is generally poor.After spinal cord injury,neurons die due to various forms of cell death.Among them,fe rroptosis causes dysfunction after spinal cord injury,and no existing traditional treatments have been indicated to block its occurrence.Meanwhile,emerging therapies using mesenchymal stem cells,extracellular vesicles,and transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy are promising for reve rsing spinal co rd neuronal ferroptosis after spinal cord injury.However,no definitive studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of these approaches.This review summarizes the existing research on the mechanisms of ferroptosis;fe rroptosis after spinal cord injury;treatment of spinal cord injury with mesenchymal stem cells,extracellular vesicles,and transc ranial magnetic stimulation;and treatment of ferroptosis using mesenchymal stem cells,extracellular vesicles,and transc ranial magnetic stimulation.Inhibiting ferroptosis can promote the reversal of neurological dysfunction after spinal cord injury.In addition,mesenchymal stem cells,extracellular vesicles,and transc ranial magnetic stimulation can reve rse adverse outcomes of spinal cord injury and regulate ferroptosis-related fa ctors.Thus,it can be inferred that mesenchymal stem cells,extracellular vesicles,and transcranial magnetic stimulation have the potential to inhibit fe rroptosis after spinal cord injury.This review serves as a reference for future research to confirm these conclusions.

Reduced graphene oxide-embedded nerve conduits loaded with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles promote peripheral nerve regeneration

We previously combined reduced graphene oxide(rGO)with gelatin-methacryloyl(GelMA)and polycaprolactone(PCL)to create an rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduit and found that the conductivity and biocompatibility were improved.However,the rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits differed greatly from autologous nerve transplants in their ability to promote the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves and axonal sprouting.Extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)can be loaded into rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits for repair of rat sciatic nerve injury because they can promote angiogenesis at the injured site.In this study,12 weeks after surgery,sciatic nerve function was measured by electrophysiology and sciatic nerve function index,and myelin sheath and axon regeneration were observed by electron microscopy,immunohistochemistry,and immunofluorescence.The regeneration of microvessel was observed by immunofluorescence.Our results showed that rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits loaded with BMSC-derived extracellular vesicles were superior to rGO-GelMA-PCL conduits alone in their ability to increase the number of newly formed vessels and axonal sprouts at the injury site as well as the recovery of neurological function.These findings indicate that rGO-GelMA-PCL nerve conduits loaded with BMSC-derived extracellular vesicles can promote peripheral nerve regeneration and neurological function recovery,and provide a new direction for the curation of peripheral nerve defect in the clinic.

Adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles reduce glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in the retina

Adipose mesenchymal stem cells(ADSCs)have protective effects against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity,but ADSCs are limited in use for treatment of optic nerve injury.Studies have shown that the extracellular vesicles(EVs)secreted by ADSCs(ADSC-EVs)not only have the function of ADSCs,but also have unique advantages including non-immunogenicity,low probability of abnormal growth,and easy access to target cells.In the present study,we showed that intravitreal injection of ADSC-EVs substantially reduced glutamate-induced damage to retinal morphology and electroretinography.In addition,R28 cell pretreatment with ADSC-EVs before injury inhibited glutamate-induced overload of intracellular calcium,downregulation ofα-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid receptor(AMPAR)subunit GluA2,and phosphorylation of GluA2 and protein kinase C alpha in vitro.A protein kinase C alpha agonist,12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate,inhibited the neuroprotective effects of ADSC-EVs on glutamate-induced R28 cells.These findings suggest that ADSCEVs ameliorate glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in the retina through inhibiting protein kinase C alpha activation.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles therapy in traumatic central nervous system diseases:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Although there are challenges in treating traumatic central nervous system diseases,mesenchymal stem cell-de rived extracellular vesicles(MSC-EVs) have recently proven to be a promising non-cellular the rapy.We comprehensively evaluated the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-de rived extracellular vesicles in traumatic central nervous system diseases in this meta-analysis based on preclinical studies.Our meta-analysis was registered at PROSPERO(CRD42022327904,May 24,2022).To fully retrieve the most relevant articles,the following databases were thoro ughly searched:PubMed,Web of Science,The Cochrane Library,and Ovid-Embase(up to April 1,2022).The included studies were preclinical studies of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles for traumatic central nervous system diseases.The Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation(SYRCLE)’s risk of bias tool was used to examine the risk of publication bias in animal studies.After screening 2347studies,60 studies were included in this study.A meta-analysis was conducted for spinal co rd injury(n=52) and traumatic brain injury(n=8).The results indicated that mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles treatment prominently promoted motor function recovery in spinal co rd injury animals,including rat Basso,Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale scores(standardized mean difference [SMD]:2.36,95% confidence interval [CI]:1.96-2.76,P <0.01,I2=71%) and mouse Basso Mouse Scale scores(SMD=2.31,95% CI:1.57-3.04,P=0.01,I2=60%) compared with controls.Further,mesenchymal stem cell-de rived extracellular vesicles treatment significantly promoted neurological recovery in traumatic brain injury animals,including the modified N eurological Severity Score(SMD=-4.48,95% CI:-6.12 to-2.84,P <0.01,I2=79%) and Foot Fault Test(SMD=-3.26,95% CI:-4.09 to-2.42,P=0.28,I2=21%) compared with controls.Subgroup analyses showed that characteristics may be related to the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cell-de rived extra cellular vesicles.For Basso,Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale scores,the efficacy of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles was higher than that of xenogeneic mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles(allogeneic:SMD=2.54,95% CI:2.05-3.02,P=0.0116,I2=65.5%;xenogeneic:SMD:1.78,95%CI:1.1-2.45,P=0.0116,I2=74.6%).Mesenchymal stem cellde rived extracellular vesicles separated by ultrafiltration centrifugation combined with density gradient ultra centrifugation(SMD=3.58,95% CI:2.62-4.53,P <0.0001,I2=31%) may be more effective than other EV isolation methods.For mouse Basso Mouse Scale scores,placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cell-de rived extracellular vesicles worked better than bone mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles(placenta:SMD=5.25,95% CI:2.45-8.06,P=0.0421,I2=0%;bone marrow:SMD=1.82,95% CI:1.23-2.41,P=0.0421,I2=0%).For modified Neurological Severity Score,bone marrow-derived MSC-EVs worked better than adipose-derived MSC-EVs(bone marrow:SMD=-4.86,95% CI:-6.66 to-3.06,P=0.0306,I2=81%;adipose:SMD=-2.37,95% CI:-3.73 to-1.01,P=0.0306,I2=0%).Intravenous administration(SMD=-5.47,95% CI:-6.98 to-3.97,P=0.0002,I2=53.3%) and dose of administration equal to 100 μg(SMD=-5.47,95% CI:-6.98 to-3.97,P <0.0001,I2=53.3%)showed better res ults than other administration routes and doses.The heterogeneity of studies was small,and sensitivity analysis also indicated stable results.Last,the methodological quality of all trials was mostly satisfactory.In conclusion,in the treatment of traumatic central nervous system diseases,mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles may play a crucial role in promoting motor function recovery.

Extracellular vesicles in Alzheimer’s disease:from pathology to therapeutic approaches

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder that starts many years before the onset of cognitive symptoms.Identifying novel biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease has the potential for patient risk stratification,early diagnosis,and disease monitoring in response to therapy.A novel class of biomarkers is extracellular vesicles given their sensitivity and specificity to specific diseases.In addition,extracellular vesicles can be used as novel biological therapeutics given their ability to efficiently and functionally deliver therapeutic cargo.This is critical given the huge unmet need for novel treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s disease.This review summarizes and discusses the most recent findings in this field.