Exosomes Derived from Induced and Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Senescence-like Features and Migration in Cancer Cells
Nidaa A. Ababneh, Razan AlDiqs, Sura Nashwan, Mohammad A. Ismail, Raghda Barham, Renata M. Alatoom, Fairouz Nairat, Mohammad H. Gharandouq, Talal Salem Al‐Qaisi, Abdalla Awidi, Tareq Saleh
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) play a key role in tissue repair, immune regulation, and cancer biology. Due to limitations in MSC expansion and source variability, interest has shifted to induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs (iMSCs) as a promising alternative. This study compares effects of exosomes derived from iMSCs (iMSC-Exos) and Wharton's jelly MSCs (WJMSC-Exos) on MCF7 and A549 cancer cells. Both types of exosomes reduced MCF7 proliferation and induced a senescence-like state, rather than apoptosis, although the antiproliferative effect was transient in A549 cells. Notably, WJMSC-Exos promoted migration in both MCF7 and A549, whereas iMSC-Exos did not exhibit this effect. Overall, WJMSC-Exos had a more robust impact on cancer cell proliferation and migration. These findings highlight the diverse effects of exosomes on cancer and the development of a senescence-like state as an important response to Exos exposure. Moreover, these findings invite for more careful evaluation of the therapeutic role of iMSC-derived Exos.