Human amniotic epithelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles provide an extracellular matrix-based microenvironment for corneal injury repair

Shuqin Hu; Zhe Wang; Caixia Jin; Qizhen Chen; Yuchen Fang; Jiahui Jin; Jie Chen; Lixia Lu; Haibin Tian; Jingying Xu; Furong Gao; Juan Wang; Jieping Zhang; Hong-Ping Cui; Guo-Tong Xu; Qingjian Ou

doi:10.1177/20417314221122123

Journal of Tissue Engineering (Sep 2022)

Human amniotic epithelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles provide an extracellular matrix-based microenvironment for corneal injury repair

Shuqin Hu,
Zhe Wang,
Caixia Jin,
Qizhen Chen,
Yuchen Fang,
Jiahui Jin,
Jie Chen,
Lixia Lu,
Haibin Tian,
Jingying Xu,
Furong Gao,
Juan Wang,
Jieping Zhang,
Hong-Ping Cui,
Guo-Tong Xu,
Qingjian Ou

Affiliations

Shuqin Hu: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Zhe Wang: Department of Physiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
Caixia Jin: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Qizhen Chen: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wusong Branch, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Yuchen Fang: Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Renhe Hospital, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
Jiahui Jin: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Jie Chen: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Lixia Lu: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Haibin Tian: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Jingying Xu: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Furong Gao: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Juan Wang: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Jieping Zhang: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Hong-Ping Cui: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Guo-Tong Xu: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Qingjian Ou: Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20417314221122123
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13

Abstract

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To study the biological functions and applications of human amniotic epithelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles (hAEC-EVs), the cargos of hAEC-EVs were analyzed using miRNA sequencing and proteomics analysis. The hAECs and hAEC-EVs in this study had specific characteristics. Multi-omics analyses showed that extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganization, inhibition of excessive myofibroblasts, and promotion of target cell adhesion to the ECM were their primary functions. We evaluated the application of hAEC-EVs for corneal alkali burn healing in rabbits and elucidated the fundamental mechanisms. Slit-lamp images revealed that corneal alkali burns induced central epithelial loss, stromal haze, iris, and pupil obscurity in rabbits. Slit-lamp examination and histological findings indicated that hAEC-EVs facilitated re-epithelialization of the cornea after alkali burns, reduced scar formation and promoted the restoration of corneal tissue transparency. Significantly fewer α-SMA-positive myofibroblasts were observed in the hAEC-EV-treated group than the PBS group. HAEC-EVs effectively promoted the proliferation and migration of hCECs and hCSCs in vitro and activated the focal adhesion signaling pathway. We demonstrated that hAEC-EVs were excellent cell-free candidates for the treatment of ECM lesion-based diseases, including corneal alkali burns. HAEC-EVs promoted ECM reorganization and cell adhesion of target tissues or cells via orderly activation of the focal adhesion signaling pathway.

Published in Journal of Tissue Engineering

ISSN: 2041-7314 (Online)
Publisher: SAGE Publishing
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry: Biochemistry
Website: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/tej

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