VEGFA‐Enriched Exosomes from Tendon‐Derived Stem Cells Facilitate Tenocyte Differentiation, Migration, and Transition to a Fibroblastic Phenotype

作者：Zhaowen Xue, Zihang Chen, Tingting Wu, Riwang Li, Chao Chen, Junting Liu, Huige Hou, Xiaofei Zheng, Huajun Wang · 发表于：BioMed Research International · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1155/2022/8537959 · 被引用次数：20 · 研究领域：Tendon Structure and Treatment、Sports injuries and prevention、Shoulder Injury and Treatment

Tendon‐derived stem cells (TDSCs) play a vital role in repair of rotator cuff tear injuries by secreting paracrine proteins that regulate resident cell functions. Secreted exosomes may play a role in tendon injury repair by mediating intercellular communication; however, the detailed mechanisms by which TDSC‐derived exosomes affect tenocyte development remain unknown. Here, we examined the effects of exosomes isolated from conditioned medium of TDSCs on tenocyte differentiation, migration, and transition to a fibroblastic phenotype in vitro. Successful isolation of exosomes from TDSCs was confirmed by high expression levels of CD81, CD63, CD9, and TSG101. Treatment with TDSC‐derived exosomes promoted the growth and migration of cultured rat tenocytes, and increased the levels of the fibrosis markers collagen I, collagen III, scleraxis, tenascin C, and α ‐smooth muscle actin. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression was higher in TDSC‐derived exosomes than in TDSCs, and genetic knockdown of VEGFA suppressed the stimulatory effect of TDSC‐derived exosomes on tenocyte development. Overall, these results demonstrate that VEGFA‐enriched exosomes isolated from TDSCs promote differentiation and migration of cultured tenocytes and their transition to a fibroblastic phenotype. These data provide a new potential clinical treatment strategy for tendon injury.