Extracellular vesicles from human mesenchymal stem cells expedite chondrogenesis in 3D human degenerative disc cell cultures
Daphne Hingert, Karin M. Ekström, Jonathan Aldridge, Rosella Crescitelli, Helena Brisby
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are known to be mediators of intercellular communication and have been suggested as possible therapeutic agents in many diseases. Their potential use in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration associated with low back pain (LBP) is yet to be explored. Since LBP affects more than 85% of the western population resulting in high socioeconomic consequences, there is a demand for exploring new and possibly mini-invasive treatment alternatives. In this study, the effect of hMSC-derived small EVs (sEVs) on degenerated disc cells (DCs) isolated from patients with degenerative discs and chronic LBP was investigated in a 3D in vitro model. METHODS: vesicles/ml concentration for 28 days and compared to control. The pellets were harvested at days 7, 14, and 28 and evaluated for cell proliferation, viability, ECM production, apoptotic activity, chondrogenesis, and cytokine secretions. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated that treatment with sEVs from hMSCs resulted in more than 50% increase in cell proliferation and decrease in cellular apoptosis in degenerated DCs from this patient group. ECM production was also observed as early as in day 7 and was more than three times higher in the sEV-treated DC pellets compared to control cultures. Further, sEV treatment suppressed secretion of MMP-1 in the DCs. CONCLUSION: hMSC-derived sEVs improved cell viability and expedited chondrogenesis in DCs from degenerated IVDs. These findings open up for new tissue regeneration treatment strategies to be developed for degenerative disorders of the spine.