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Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Murine Excisional Wound Healing Model and Histological Morphometric Wound Analysis
Published on: August 21, 2020
MSC-derived exosomes attenuate cell death through suppressing AIF nucleus translocation and enhance cutaneous wound
Guifang Zhao1,2, Feilin Liu3, Zinan Liu1
1Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, No. 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
Background:
Skin wounding is very common and may be slow to heal. Increasing evidence shows that exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) dramatically enhance skin wound healing in a paracrine manner. However, the mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not yet been elucidated. Thus, the objective of the present study was to identify the signaling pathways and paracrine factors by which MSC-derived exosomes promote de novo skin tissue regeneration in response to wound healing.
Methods:
In vitro and in vivo skin wound healing models were created by treating immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and excising full-thickness mouse skin, respectively. Exosomes were extracted from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly MSCs (hucMSC-Ex) by ultracentrifugation of cell culture supernatant.
Results:
The hucMSC-Ex treatment significantly increased HaCaT cell proliferation and migration in a time- and dose-dependent manner, suppressed HaCaT apoptosis induced with H2O2 by inhibiting nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and upregulating poly ADP ribose polymerase 1 (PARP-1) and poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR). The animal experiments showed that relative to hucMSCs, hucMSC-Ex attenuated full-thickness skin wounding by enhancing epidermal re-epithelialization and dermal angiogenesis.
Conclusions:
These findings indicated that direct administration of hucMSC-Ex may effectively treat cutaneous wounding and could be of great value in clinical settings.
Insights
Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-Ex) accelerate skin wound healing by promoting cell proliferation, migration, and re-epithelialization. These exosomes offer a promising therapeutic approach for cutaneous wound treatment.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cell Biology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Skin wounds are common and healing can be delayed.
- Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes show potential in enhancing skin wound healing.
- The precise mechanisms of MSC-exosome action in wound repair are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the signaling pathways and paracrine factors involved in MSC-exosome-mediated skin wound healing.
- To investigate the role of MSC-derived exosomes in promoting de novo skin tissue regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Established in vitro (HaCaT cells with H2O2) and in vivo (mouse full-thickness skin excision) wound models.
- Isolated exosomes from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly MSCs (hucMSC-Ex) via ultracentrifugation.
Main Results:
- hucMSC-Ex significantly boosted HaCaT cell proliferation and migration.
- hucMSC-Ex inhibited apoptosis in HaCaT cells by modulating AIF, PARP-1, and PAR.
- In vivo, hucMSC-Ex enhanced epidermal re-epithelialization and dermal angiogenesis in skin wounds.
Conclusions:
- Direct administration of hucMSC-Ex effectively promotes skin wound healing.
- MSC-derived exosomes represent a valuable therapeutic strategy for clinical applications in treating cutaneous wounds.
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