IntroductionStudies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) could reverse acute and chronic kidney injury by a paracrine or endocrine mechanism, and microvesicles (MVs) have been regarded as a crucial means of intercellular communication. In the current study, we focused on the therapeutic effects of human Wharton-Jelly MSCs derived microvesicles (hWJMSC-MVs) in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury and its potential mechanisms.MethodsMVs isolated from conditioned medium were injected intravenously in rats immediately after ischemia of the left kidney for 60 minutes. The animals were sacrificed at 24 hours, 48 hours and 2 weeks after reperfusion. The infiltration of inflammatory cells was identified by the immunostaining of CD68+ cells. ELISA was employed to determine the inflammatory factors in the kidney and serum von Willebrand Factor (VWF). Tubular cell proliferation and apoptosis were identified by immunostaining. Renal fibrosis was assessed by Masson’s tri-chrome straining and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) staining. The CX3CL1 expression in the kidney was measured by immunostaining and Western blot, respectively. In vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with or without MVs for 24 or 48 hours under hypoxia injury to test the CX3CL1 by immunostaining and Western blot.ResultsAfter administration of hWJMSC-MVs in acute kidney injury (AKI) rats, renal cell apoptosis was mitigated and proliferation was enhanced, inflammation was also alleviated in the first 48 hours. MVs also could suppress the expression of CX3CL1 and decrease the number of CD68+ macrophages in the kidney. In the late period, improvement of renal function and abrogation of renal fibrosis were observed. In vitro, MVs could down-regulate the expression of CX3CL1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells under hypoxia injury at 24 or 48 hours.ConclusionsA single administration of MVs immediately after ischemic AKI could ameliorate renal injury in both the acute and chronic stage, and the anti-inflammatory property of MVs through suppression of CX3CL1 may be a potential mechanism. This establishes a substantial foundation for future research and treatment.

Background. The immoderation of mitochondrial fission is one of the main contributors in ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) derived extracellular vesicles have been regarded as a potential therapy method. Here, we hypothesized that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human Wharton Jelly mesenchymal stromal cells (hWJMSCs) ameliorate acute renal IRI by inhibiting mitochondrial fission through miR-30b/c/d. Methods. EVs isolated from the condition medium of MCS were injected intravenously in rats immediately after monolateral nephrectomy and renal pedicle occlusion for 45 minutes. Animals were sacrificed at 24 h after reperfusion and samples were collected. MitoTracker Red staining was used to see the morphology of the mitochondria. The expression of DRP1 was measured by western blot. miR-30 in EVs and rat tubular epithelial cells was assessed by qRT-PCR. Apoptosis pathway was identified by immunostaining. Results. We found that the expression of miR-30 in injured kidney tissues was declined and mitochondrial dynamics turned to fission. But they were both restored in EVs group in parallel with reduced cell apoptosis. What is more, when the miR-30 antagomirs were used to reduce the miRNA levels, all the related effects of EVs reduced remarkably. Conclusion. A single administration of hWJMSC-EVs could protect the kidney from IRI by inhibition of mitochondrial fission via miR-30.

Oxidative stress is known as one of the main contributors in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Here we hypothesized that Micro-vesicles (MVs) derived from human Wharton Jelly mesenchymal stromal cells (hWJMSCs) could protect kidney against IRI through mitigating oxidative stress. MVs isolated from hWJMSCs conditioned medium were injected intravenously in rats immediately after unilateral kidney ischemia for 60 min. The animals were sacrificed at 24h, 48h and 2 weeks respectively after reperfusion. Our results show that the expression of NOX2 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in injured kidney tissues was declined and the oxidative stress was alleviated in MVs group at 24h and 48h in parallel with the reduced apoptosis and enhanced proliferation of cells. IRI-initiated fibrosis was abrogated by MVs coincident with renal function amelioration at 2 weeks. NOX2 was also found down-regulated by MVs both in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and NRK-52E cell line under hypoxia injury model in vitro. In conclusion, a single administration of hWJMSC-MVs might protect the kidney by alleviation of the oxidative stress in the early stage of kidney IRI through suppressing NOX2 expression. Moreover, it could reduce the fibrosis and improved renal function.