{"title":"Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles induce liver fibrosis-resolving phenotype in alternatively activated macrophages","authors":"Shukoofeh Torabi, Morteza Zarrabi, Faezeh Shekari, Hedie Poorkazem, Majid Lotfinia, Stefan Bencina, Roberto Gramignoli, Moustapha Hassan, Mustapha Najimi, Massoud Vosough","doi":"10.1111/jcmm.18507","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>The potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from mesenchymal stromal cells in guiding macrophages toward anti-inflammatory immunophenotypes, has been reported in several studies. In our study, we provided experimental evidence of a distinctive effect played by Wharton Jelly mesenchymal stromal cell-derived EVs (WJ-EVs) on human macrophages. We particularly analyzed their anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages by evaluating their interactions with stellate cells, and their protective role in liver fibrosis. A three-step gradient method was used to isolate monocytes from umbilical cord blood (UCB). Two subpopulations of WJ-EVs were isolated by high-speed (20,000 <i>g</i>) and differential ultracentrifugation (110,000 <i>g</i>). Further to their characterization, they were designated as EV20K and EV110K and incubated at different concentrations with UCB-derived monocytes for 7 days. Their anti-fibrotic effect was assessed by studying the differentiation and functional levels of generated macrophages and their potential to modulate the survival and activity of LX2 stellate cells. The EV20K triggers the polarization of UCB-derived monocytes towards a peculiar M2-like functional phenotype more effectively than the M-CSF positive control. The EV20K treated macrophages were characterized by a higher expression of scavenger receptors, increased phagocytic capacity and production level of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β. Conditioned medium from those polarized macrophages attenuated the proliferation, contractility and activation of LX2 stellate cells. Our data show that EV20K derived from WJ-MSCs induces activated macrophages to suppress immune responses and potentially play a protective role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis by directly inhibiting HSC’s activation.</p>","PeriodicalId":101321,"journal":{"name":"JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jcmm.18507","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcmm.18507","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
The potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from mesenchymal stromal cells in guiding macrophages toward anti-inflammatory immunophenotypes, has been reported in several studies. In our study, we provided experimental evidence of a distinctive effect played by Wharton Jelly mesenchymal stromal cell-derived EVs (WJ-EVs) on human macrophages. We particularly analyzed their anti-inflammatory effects on macrophages by evaluating their interactions with stellate cells, and their protective role in liver fibrosis. A three-step gradient method was used to isolate monocytes from umbilical cord blood (UCB). Two subpopulations of WJ-EVs were isolated by high-speed (20,000 g) and differential ultracentrifugation (110,000 g). Further to their characterization, they were designated as EV20K and EV110K and incubated at different concentrations with UCB-derived monocytes for 7 days. Their anti-fibrotic effect was assessed by studying the differentiation and functional levels of generated macrophages and their potential to modulate the survival and activity of LX2 stellate cells. The EV20K triggers the polarization of UCB-derived monocytes towards a peculiar M2-like functional phenotype more effectively than the M-CSF positive control. The EV20K treated macrophages were characterized by a higher expression of scavenger receptors, increased phagocytic capacity and production level of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β. Conditioned medium from those polarized macrophages attenuated the proliferation, contractility and activation of LX2 stellate cells. Our data show that EV20K derived from WJ-MSCs induces activated macrophages to suppress immune responses and potentially play a protective role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis by directly inhibiting HSC’s activation.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine serves as a bridge between physiology and cellular medicine, as well as molecular biology and molecular therapeutics. With a 20-year history, the journal adopts an interdisciplinary approach to showcase innovative discoveries.
It publishes research aimed at advancing the collective understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying diseases. The journal emphasizes translational studies that translate this knowledge into therapeutic strategies. Being fully open access, the journal is accessible to all readers.