Extracellular Vesicles from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reduce Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Cytoprotective Mechanisms in both 2D Cultures and a Human Airway Organoid Model
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Lung transplantation (LTx) remains the only curative option for patients with end-stage pulmonary diseases.However, long-term outcomes are compromised by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), a major contributor to primary graft dysfunction and chronic lung allograft impairment.Current pharmacological and technological strategies provide only partial protection, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches.In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-EV) in a two-dimensional (2D) in vitro model of pulmonary IRI using A549 lung epithelial cells.To better recapitulate the in vivo airway microenvironment, we also employed a human airway organoid (hAO) model.Proteomic analysis of hiPSC-EV identified 1,698 proteins enriched in pathways relevant to apoptosis regulation, oxidative stress responses, and inflammatory signaling.In the 2D IRI model, the administration of hiPSC-EV during reperfusion significantly improved cell viability, reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and decreased apoptosis and necrosis.Furthermore, hiPSC-EV downregulated pro-inflammatory mediators (NFkB1, TNFα, IL1β, IL8, MCP1) while upregulating anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic key factors (IL1RA, BCL2).In the 3D model, hiPSC-EV administration preserved organoid structure and viability under IRI conditions, attenuated transcriptional and protein-level expression of pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers (IL1β, IL8, HMGB1, HMOX1), and enhanced anti-inflammatory (IL10) and cytoprotective (HSP27, HSP70) responses.Immunofluorescence further revealed that hiPSC-EV reduced activation of apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways.Moreover, intravenous administration of hiPSC-EV in mice showed no adverse safety signals, including tumorigenicity.Together, these findings demonstrate that hiPSC-EV exert broad cytoprotective effects in Ivyspring International
DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.134686
Authors: Rosaria Tinnirello, Maria Chiara Iachini, Maura Cimino, Noemi Elia, Margot Lo Pinto, Simone Dario Scilabra, Gioacchin Iannolo, Giovanni Zito, Roberta Vazzana, Nicola Cuscino, Matteo Bulati, Tuğba Dursun Usal, Federica Cosentino, Antonio D'amore, Federica Guffanti, Giovanna Damia, Vincenza Dolo, Massimo Pinzani, Pier Giulio Conaldi, Alessandro Bertani, Lorenzo Rosso, Lorenza Lazzari, Vitale Miceli
Institutions: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Ri.MED, Università degli Studi di Enna Kore, University of Pittsburgh, University of Palermo, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, University of L'Aquila, University of Milan
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,337
OpenAlex ID: W7221444384