Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Adipose Stem Cells Alleviate Systemic Sclerosis by Inhibiting TGF-β Pathway
10.4062/biomolther.2023.191
- Author:
Eunae KIM
1
;
Hark Kyun KIM
;
Jae Hoon SUL
;
Jeongmi LEE
;
Seung Hyun BAEK
;
Yoonsuk CHO
;
Jihoon HAN
;
Junsik KIM
;
Sunyoung PARK
;
Jae Hyung PARK
;
Yong Woo CHO
;
Dong-Gyu JO
Author Information
1. School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Biomolecules & Therapeutics
2024;32(4):432-441
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:EN
-
Abstract:
Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory reactions and fibrosis. Myofibroblasts are considered therapeutic targets for preventing and reversing the pathogenesis of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis. Although the mechanisms that differentiate into myofibroblasts are diverse, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is known to be a key mediator of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis. This study investigated the effects of extracellular vesicles derived from human adipose stem cells (ASC-EVs) in an in vivo systemic sclerosis model and in vitro TGF-β1-induced dermal fibroblasts. The therapeutic effects of ASC-EVs on the in vivo systemic sclerosis model were evaluated based on dermal thickness and the number of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-expressing cells using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Administration of ASC-EVs decreased both the dermal thickness and α-SMA expressing cell number as well as the mRNA levels of fibrotic genes, such as Acta2, Ccn2, Col1a1 and Comp. Additionally, we discovered that ASC-EVs can decrease the expression of α-SMA and CTGF and suppress the TGF-β pathway by inhibiting the activation of SMAD2 in dermal fibroblasts induced by TGF-β1. Finally, TGF-β1-induced dermal fibroblasts underwent selective death through ASC-EVs treatment. These results indicate that ASC-EVs could provide a therapeutic approach for preventing and reversing systemic sclerosis.
