The purpose of this study was to explore the associated mechanism by which MSCs-derived exosomes exerted protective effect in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs)-derived exosomes were administrated into LO2 cells exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and mice subjected to IRI. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and TUNEL staining. The expression of miR-1246 and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. The concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines was determined by ELISA. Luciferase activity assay was performed to confirm the interaction between miR-1246 and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). Hepatic function was assessed by determining serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) levels. Histological changes were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. MiR-1246 was significantly downregulated in H/R-treated LO2 cells. Treatment with exosomes derived from hUCB-MSCs led to miR-1246 upregulation. Furthermore, hUCB-MSCs-derived exosomes induced anti-apoptotic and pro-survival effects in LO2 cells and ameliorated IRI-induced hepatic dysfunction in mice, while treatment of exosomes from miR-1246 inhibitor-transfected hUCB-MSCs showed opposite effect, which was mediated by regulating GSK3β-Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Collectively, hUCB-MSCs-derived exosomes alleviated hepatic IRI by transporting miR-1246 via regulating GSK3β-mediated Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
Keywords: Exosomes; hepatic injury; ischemia/reperfusion injury.