BMSCs-EVs Alleviate Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Mice by Reducing Inflammation and Promoting Tissue Regeneration

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Stem Cell Biology
• Gynecology

Background:

• Pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFDs), including pelvic organ prolapse (POP), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and anal incontinence (AI), are prevalent degenerative conditions in women.
• Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and their derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are recognized for their roles in intercellular communication and tissue repair.
• The therapeutic efficacy of BMSC-derived EVs for PFDs remains largely unexplored in preclinical models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a mouse model of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD).
• To evaluate the impact of BMSC-derived EVs on inflammation, tissue repair, and connective tissue restoration in a PFD model induced by vaginal distension (VD).

Main Methods:

• Characterization of BMSC-derived EVs using flow cytometry and assessment of multilineage differentiation potential.
• Induction of PFD in a female mouse model via vaginal distension (VD).
• Administration of BMSC-derived EVs to the PFD mouse model and subsequent analysis of inflammatory markers, tissue repair indicators, and extracellular matrix components.

Main Results:

• BMSC-derived EVs exhibited characteristic structures and validated BMSC markers.
• Treatment with BMSC-derived EVs significantly reduced inflammatory cytokine levels and neutrophil infiltration in the PFD model (p<0.05).
• EVs promoted cell proliferation, enhanced elastin and collagen content, and decreased relaxin receptor expression in vaginal tissues, indicating improved tissue regeneration and connective tissue restoration.

Conclusions:

• BMSC-derived EVs demonstrate significant therapeutic potential in alleviating PFD induced by vaginal distension in vivo.
• These EVs effectively reduce inflammation, promote tissue regeneration, and reconstruct connective tissues, thereby improving pelvic support deficiency.
• BMSC-derived EVs represent a promising cell-free therapeutic strategy for managing pelvic floor dysfunctions.