Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by progressive cartilage degeneration and absence of curative therapies. Therefore, more efficient therapies are compellingly needed. Both mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and Icariin (ICA) are promising for repair of cartilage defect. This study proposes that ICA may be combined to potentiate the cartilage repair capacity of MSC-EVs.

Materials and methods

MSC-EVs were isolated from sodium alginate (SA) and hyaluronic acid (HA) composite hydrogel (SA-HA) cell spheroid culture. EVs and ICA were combined in SA-HA hydrogel to test therapeutic efficacy on cartilage defect in vivo.

Results

EVs and ICA were synergistic for promoting both proliferation and migration of MSCs and inflammatory chondrocytes. The combination therapy led to strikingly enhanced repair on cartilage defect in rats, with mechanisms involved in the concomitant modulation of both cartilage degradation and synthesis makers.

Conclusion

The MSC-EVs-ICA/SA-HA hydrogel potentially constitutes a novel therapy for cartilage defect in OA.

中文翻译：

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海藻酸盐-透明质酸水凝胶中淫羊藿苷和间充质干细胞来源的细胞外囊泡的结合增强软骨再生

客观的

骨关节炎（OA）的特点是进行性软骨退化和缺乏治疗方法。因此，迫切需要更有效的治疗方法。间充质干细胞（MSC）衍生的细胞外囊泡（EV）和淫羊藿苷（ICA）都有望用于修复软骨缺损。这项研究提出，ICA 可以结合起来增强 MSC-EV 的软骨修复能力。

材料和方法

MSC-EV 是从海藻酸钠(SA) 和透明质酸 (HA)复合水凝胶(SA-HA) 细胞球培养物中分离出来的。将 EV 和 ICA 组合在 SA-HA 水凝胶中，以测试体内软骨缺损的治疗效果。

结果

EVs和ICA协同促进MSCs和炎性软骨细胞的增殖和迁移。联合疗法显着增强了大鼠软骨缺损的修复，其机制涉及软骨降解和合成因子的同时调节。

结论

MSC-EVs-ICA/SA-HA 水凝胶有可能成为治疗 OA 软骨缺损的一种新疗法。