Enhanced pericyte-endothelial interactions through NO-boosted extracellular vesicles drive revascularization in a mouse model of ischemic injury

Nat Commun. 2023 Nov 13;14(1):7334. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-43153-x.

Abstract

Despite improvements in medical and surgical therapies, a significant portion of patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) are considered as "no option" for revascularization. In this work, a nitric oxide (NO)-boosted and activated nanovesicle regeneration kit (n-BANK) is constructed by decorating stem cell-derived nanoscale extracellular vesicles with NO nanocages. Our results demonstrate that n-BANKs could store NO in endothelial cells for subsequent release upon pericyte recruitment for CLI revascularization. Notably, n-BANKs enable endothelial cells to trigger eNOS activation and form tube-like structures. Subsequently, eNOS-derived NO robustly recruits pericytes to invest nascent endothelial cell tubes, giving rise to mature blood vessels. Consequently, n-BANKs confer complete revascularization in female mice following CLI, and thereby achieve limb preservation and restore the motor function. In light of n-BANK evoking pericyte-endothelial interactions to create functional vascular networks, it features promising therapeutic potential in revascularization to reduce CLI-related amputations, which potentially impact regeneration medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Endothelial Cells* / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ischemia / therapy
  • Mice
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Pericytes*
  • Stem Cells

Substances

  • Nitric Oxide