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GMP-compliant, serum-free cultures preserve therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles from human mesenchymal stromal cells

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is limited by the lack of standardized, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant production protocols. This study investigates the effects of MSC-Brew, a commercially available GMP-grade medium, on MSC-derived EVs in comparison to those produced in conventional cultures with DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). MSCs from adult dermis were successfully isolated and expanded in Brew medium while retaining their characteristic surface marker expression. MSC-EVs derived from Brew cultures met the Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (MISEV) criteria, including particle size, concentration, marker expression, and minimal inflammatory cytokine content. Notably, Brew-EVs exhibited a significantly higher particle-to-protein ratio compared to EVs produced in FBS-containing cultures, indicating improved purity. Proteomic analysis revealed a largely conserved composition between Brew-EVs and conventionally produced EVs, and microRNA (miRNA) profiling identified only four differentially expressed miRNAs. Brew-EVs were enriched in anti-fibrotic miRNAs and effectively reduced collagen secretion in transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-activated LX-2 cells, a human hepatic stellate cell line used as a model of liver fibrosis. These findings support MSC-Brew medium as a standardized, serum-free platform for the consistent production of high-quality EVs suitable for therapeutic applications.

Source: Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1633912