Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Prevent the Formation of Hypertrophic Scar in a Rabbit Model

Background Preventing scar formation during wound healing has important clinical implications. Numerous studies have indicated that adipose-derived stem cell culture mediums, which are rich in cytokines and extracellular vesicles (EVs), regulate matrix remodeling and prevent scar formation after wound healing. Therefore, using a rabbit scar model, we tried to demonstrate which factor in adipose-derived stem cell culture mediums plays a major role in preventing scar formation (EVs or cytokines), as well as revealing the underlying mechanism. Methods Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) were isolated from the subcutaneous adipose tissue of a healthy female donor. The surface CD markers of third-passage hASCs were analyzed by flow cytometry. The adipogenic differentiation capacity of the hASCs was detected using Oil O staining. A cultured medium of third- to five-passage hASCs was collected for EV and EV-free medium isolations. Extracellular vesicles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, NanoSight, and the Western blotting for surface markers CD63, TSG101, and Alix. The EV-free medium was characterized by Western blotting for vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), platelet derived growth factor B (PDGFB), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1). Eight-millimeter-diameter wounds were created on the ventral side of both ears of 16 New Zealand rabbits. A total of 0.1 mL of the human adipose-derived stem cell-extracellular vesicle (hASC-EV) or EV-free medium was locally injected into wounds made on the right ears during wound healing. Meanwhile, equal amounts of phosphate buffer saline were injected into the left ears as a control. Biopsies of the wounded skin and surrounding tissue were excised on postoperative day 28 and subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson, and alpha-SMA immunofluorescence staining. The protein expression of alpha-SMA and collagen I in both scar tissues and the normal skin were evaluated via Western blotting. Results The hASCs expressed high levels of 49d, CD90, CD105, and CD73 but did not express CD34 or CD45. The hASCs differentiated into adipocytes under an adipogenic induction medium. Under transmission electron microscopy, the hASC-EVs were circular, bilayer membrane vesicles and approximately 95% of the particles were between 50 and 200 nm in size. The hASC-EVs expressed the same surface markers as EVs, including CD63, TSG101, and Alix and displayed little expression of VEGFA, PDGFB, and TGF beta 1. The EV-free medium had a high expression of VEGFA, PDGFB, and TGF beta 1 but displayed no expression of CD63, TSG101, and Alix. In vivo, the hASC-EV treatment prevented the formation of hypertrophic scars on postoperative day 28 and suppressed collagen deposition and myofibroblast aggregation. However, the EV-free medium did not prevent the formation of hypertrophic scars on the same time point and had little effect on collagen deposition and myofibroblast aggregation when compared with the control group. Conclusions Our study suggests that hASCs are associated with preventive scar formation therapy because of paracrine EVs rather than cytokines. A local injection of hASC-EVs during wound healing efficiently prevented hypertrophic scar formation, which may have a clinically beneficial antiscarring effect.