Exosomes isolated from TNF-α-treated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate pelvic floor dysfunction in rats

Exosomes derived from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can alleviate the symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) in rats. However, the potential therapeutical effects of exosomes derived from BMSCs treated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α on the symptoms of PFD in rats are unknown. Exosomes extracted from BMSCs treated with or without TNF-α were applied to treat PFD rats. Our findings revealed a significant elevation in interleukin (IL)-6 and TNF-α, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) levels in the vaginal wall tissues of patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) compared with the control group. Daily administration of exosomes derived from BMSCs, treated either with or without TNF-α (referred to as Exo and TNF-Exo), resulted in increased void volume and bladder void pressure, along with reduced peak bladder pressure and leak point pressure in PFD rats. Notably, TNF-Exo treatment demonstrated superior efficacy in restoring void volume, bladder void pressure and the mentioned parameters compared with Exo treatment. Importantly, TNF-Exo exhibited greater potency than Exo in restoring the levels of multiple proteins (Elastin, Collagen I, Collagen III, IL-6, TNF-α and MMP2) in the anterior vaginal walls of PFD rats. The application of exosomes derived from TNF-α-treated BMSCs holds promise as a novel therapeutic approach for treating PFD.