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Updated: Nov 9, 2025
Isolation and Culture of Pulmonary Endothelial Cells from Neonatal Mice
Published on: December 14, 2010
Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Exosomes From Very Preterm Infants With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Impaired Endothelial
Xin-Qi Zhong1,2, Qin Yan3, Zhuang-Gui Chen4
1Department of Neonatology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Insights
Exosomes from umbilical cord blood of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) impair blood vessel development. Specific exosomal microRNAs (EXO-miRNAs) within these exosomes are linked to BPD pathogenesis and may serve as biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common complication in premature infants, characterized by impaired lung development.
- Exosomes and their microRNA cargo (EXO-miRNAs) are implicated in BPD pathogenesis.
- The role of umbilical cord blood exosomes and EXO-miRNAs in BPD-related angiogenesis remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of umbilical cord blood-derived exosomes from BPD infants on angiogenesis.
- To identify differentially expressed EXO-miRNAs in BPD infants and their association with angiogenesis pathways.
- To explore the functional role of specific EXO-miRNAs in endothelial cell function.
Main Methods:
- Umbilical cord blood exosomes were isolated from preterm infants with and without BPD.
- In vitro angiogenesis assays were performed using these exosomes.
- Next-generation sequencing identified differentially expressed EXO-miRNAs.
- Quantitative PCR and cell culture experiments assessed the function of specific miRNAs in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Main Results:
- Exosomes from BPD infants significantly impaired angiogenesis in vitro.
- 418 differentially expressed EXO-miRNAs were identified, enriched in PI3K/Akt and angiogenesis pathways.
- BPD was associated with decreased hsa-miR-103a-3p and hsa-miR-185-5p, and increased hsa-miR-200a-3p.
- Overexpression of hsa-miR-103a-3p and hsa-miR-185-5p promoted HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation, while hsa-miR-200a-3p inhibited these processes.
Conclusions:
- Umbilical cord blood exosomes from BPD infants negatively regulate angiogenesis.
- Differentially expressed EXO-miRNAs, particularly hsa-miR-103a-3p, hsa-miR-185-5p, and hsa-miR-200a-3p, are involved in BPD-associated angiogenesis dysfunction.
- These findings suggest a potential role for EXO-miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for BPD.
Abstract:
Premature infants have a high risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is characterized by abnormal development of alveoli and pulmonary vessels. Exosomes and exosomal miRNAs (EXO-miRNAs) from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are involved in the development of BPD and might serve as predictive biomarkers for BPD. However, the roles of exosomes and EXO-miRNAs from umbilical cord blood of BPD infants in regulating angiogenesis are yet to be elucidated. In this study, we showed that umbilical cord blood-derived exosomes from BPD infants impaired angiogenesis in vitro. Next-generation sequencing of EXO-miRNAs from preterm infants without (NBPD group) or with BPD (BPD group) uncovered a total of 418 differentially expressed (DE) EXO-miRNAs. These DE EXO-miRNAs were primarily enriched in cellular function-associated pathways including the PI3K/Akt and angiogenesis-related signaling pathways. Among those EXO-miRNAs which are associated with PI3K/Akt and angiogenesis-related signaling pathways, BPD reduced the expression of hsa-miR-103a-3p and hsa-miR-185-5p exhibiting the most significant reduction (14.3% and 23.1% of NBPD group, respectively); BPD increased hsa-miR-200a-3p expression by 2.64 folds of the NBPD group. Furthermore, overexpression of hsa-miR-103a-3p and hsa-miR-185-5p in normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) significantly enhanced endothelial cell proliferation, tube formation, and cell migration, whereas overexpressing hsa-miR-200a-3p inhibited these cellular responses. This study demonstrates that exosomes derived from umbilical cord blood of BPD infants impair angiogenesis, possibly via DE EXO-miRNAs, which might contribute to the development of BPD.
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