Tissue Eng Regen Med.  2022 Feb;19(1):141-150. 10.1007/s13770-021-00405-5.

The Therapeutic Effects of Exosomes Derived from Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Scleroderma

• Yu Y
• Shen L
• Xie X
• Zhao J
• Jiang M

• KMID: 2525413
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-021-00405-5

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Scleroderma is a multisystem disease in which tissue fibrosis is caused by inflammation and vascular damage. The mortality of scleroderma has remained high due to a lack of effective treatments. However, exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs)-Ex have been regarded as potential treatments for various autoimmune diseases, and may also act as candidates for treating scleroderma.
METHODS
Mice with scleroderma received a single 50 lg HUMSCs-Ex. HUMSCs-Ex was characterized using transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and nanoflow cytometry. The therapeutic efficacy was assessed using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot.
RESULTS
HUMSCs-Ex ameliorated the deposition of extracellular matrix and suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, and the effects lasted at least three weeks. In addition, HUMSCs-Ex promoted M1 macrophage polarization and inhibited M2 macrophage polarization, leading to the restoration of the balance of M1/M2 macrophages.
CONCLUSION
We investigated the potential antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of HUMSCs-Ex in a bleomycininduced mouse model of scleroderma. So HUMSCs-Ex could be considered as a candidate therapy for scleroderma.

Keyword

Scleroderma; Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell; Exosome; Macrophage; Bleomycin