Advances in Immunomodulatory Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived Exosome on Immune Cells in Scar Formation

Int J Nanomedicine. 2023 Jul 3:18:3643-3662. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S412717. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Pathological scars are the result of over-repair and excessive tissue proliferation of the skin injury. It may cause serious dysfunction, resulting in psychological and physiological burdens on the patients. Currently, mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes (MSC-Exo) displayed a promising therapeutic effect on wound repair and scar attenuation. But the regulatory mechanisms are opinions vary. In view of inflammation has long been proven as the initial factor of wound healing and scarring, and the unique immunomodulation mechanism of MSC-Exo, the utilization of MSC-Exo may be promising therapeutic for pathological scars. However, different immune cells function differently during wound repair and scar formation. The immunoregulatory mechanism of MSC-Exo would differ among different immune cells and molecules. Herein, this review gave a comprehensive summary of MSC-Exo immunomodulating different immune cells in wound healing and scar formation to provide basic theoretical references and therapeutic exploration of inflammatory wound healing and pathological scars.

Keywords: exosomes; immune cells; immunoregulation; inflammation; scars.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cicatrix* / immunology
  • Cicatrix* / pathology
  • Cicatrix* / therapy
  • Exosomes* / immunology
  • Exosomes* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immune System* / immunology
  • Immune System* / pathology
  • Immunomodulation* / immunology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells* / immunology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells* / pathology
  • Wound Healing / immunology

Grants and funding

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81901968), the Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Shandong province (ZR2019BH051) and the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (2018M642667).