Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes prevent and alleviate experimental pulmonary fibrosis by modulating the cytoskeleton of macrophages

🥉 Top 5% JournalSep 30, 2025Stem cell research & therapy

Stem cell-derived exosomes may prevent and reduce lung scarring by changing immune cell structure

AI simplified

Regenerative Health on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Abstract

derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells significantly alleviate pulmonary inflammation and slow lung fibrosis in a mouse model.

hucMSC-Exos are associated with reduced pulmonary inflammation in silicotic mice.
Treatment with hucMSC-Exos slows the progression of lung fibrosis.
Inhibition of macrophage occurs following treatment with hucMSC-Exos.
Activation of the actin cytoskeleton signaling pathway is observed in treated silicotic mice.
hucMSC-Exos help maintain plasma membrane integrity in lung tissues affected by silicosis.

AI simplified

BACKGROUND: is an occupational lung disease characterized by silicotic nodules and progressive pulmonary fibrosis, caused by long-term excessive inhalation of free silica. So far, no effective methods have been developed to delay or cure silicotic fibrosis. derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSC-Exos), which possess functions of intercellular communication, tissue repair and regeneration, offering a potential strategy for the treatment of silicosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, exosomes were extracted from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (huc-MSCs) using differential centrifugation and characterized for subsequent experiments. A silica-induced silicosis mouse model was established. Lung CT scans were performed to assess pulmonary lesions, while blood oxygenation status was monitored. Histopathological analysis of lung tissues was conducted, and Western blot was used to evaluate inflammatory and fibrotic markers, aiming to investigate the therapeutic effects of hucMSCs and their exosomes on silicotic mice. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing of lung tissues was employed to screen differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in the two treatment groups, followed by in vitro validation of the proposed mechanisms.

CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that hucMSC-Exos alleviate pulmonary inflammation, slow lung fibrosis, inhibit macrophage , activate the actin cytoskeleton signaling pathway, and maintain plasma membrane integrity in silicotic mice. This study provides possible therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms for silicosis, establishing a link among silicosis, cytoskeleton, and pyroptosis, while validating the protective effect of hucMSC-Exos on the lungs of silicotic mice.

Key numbers

5 of 5

Decrease in TNF-α Levels

Measured in serum of mice on days 28 and 56.

5 of 5

Reduction in Hydroxyproline Levels

Measured in lung tissues of mice across treatment groups.

Full Text

We can’t show the full text here under this license. Use the link below to read it at the source.

View full text (PDF) ↗View full text (HTML) ↗View full text (PDF) ↗