Exofection as a Therapeutic Modality: Restoring P-gp Activity via Trophoblast-Derived EV in Neuroinflammatory...

P-glycoprotein (P-gp/ABCB1) is a key efflux transporter that maintains barrier integrity by clearing xenobiotics and toxic metabolites. At the feto-maternal interface, trophoblast-derived extracellular vesicles (CTC-EVs) naturally and transiently transfer functional P-gp to maternal decidual cells, restoring lost and or reduced P-gp function (exofection) to sustain pregnancy homeostasis. A similar loss of P-gp at the blood brain barrier (BBB) contributes to impaired amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. We investigated whether CTC-EV-mediated exofection could restore P-gp function in human brain endothelial cells (hBECs) and enhance Aβ clearance under inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions.

CTC-EVs were isolated and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blotting for P-gp and EV markers. Transcriptomic profiling of CTC-EVs identified enrichment of transporter-related genes, including solute carriers and ABC transporters, along with inflammatory mediators. Network analysis revealed coordinated modules linking EV cargo to transporter regulation, endocytosis/trafficking pathways, and inflammatory remodeling processes converging on BBB efflux activity. hBECs were exposed to LPS (500 ng/mL, 48 h) with or without CTC-EVs. P-gp expression was assessed by immunofluorescence (mean fluorescence intensity, MFI) and western blotting, while functional efflux was measured using Calcein-AM assays. Aβ oligomer transport was evaluated using a transwell hBEC model. In vivo, 3xTg-AD mice received intravenous CTC-EVs (1×10L/day for 5 days), followed by assessment of P-gp expression, Aβ burden, and neuroinflammatory markers. Pharmacokinetic studies in P-gp knockout mice were conducted to confirm functional transporter recovery.

LPS exposure significantly reduced P-gp expression in hBECs (41.3% decrease in MFI, p=0.0084), which was restored by CTC-EVs (46.7% increase vs. LPS, p=0.0121). Exofection increased P-gp by a 2.1-fold following EV treatment as determined by western blot. Functional assays demonstrated enhanced efflux, with a 38.5% reduction in intracellular Calcein fluorescence (p<0.001). Network-informed mechanisms supported coordinated regulation of transporter and trafficking pathways. CTC-EVs improved Aβ transport across inflamed hBEC monolayers. In vivo, EV-treated 3xTg-AD mice exhibited increased P-gp expression in the frontal cortex (38.6%) and hippocampus (42.1%), reduced Aβ plaque burden (27.9%), and decreased inflammatory markers (IL-1β and TNF-α, p<0.05). In P-gp knockout mice, EVs reduced brain drug accumulation by 22.4% (p=0.032), confirming restoration of transporter function.

CTC derived EVs are natural carriers of functional transporter proteins and restore efflux capacity in compromised endothelial barriers. Integration of transcriptomic and network analyses highlights coordinated regulation of transporter, trafficking, and inflammatory pathways underlying exofection. This reproductive biology inspired strategy offers a promising therapeutic approach for enhancing Aβ clearance and mitigating neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease.