Deciphering the Heterogeneity Landscape of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for Precise Selection in Translational Medicine

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) have been considered promising therapeutics for disease treatments. However, MSC-EVs harvested from different tissues present unique biological features reflective of their origins. The heterogeneity of MSC-EVs constitutes an important barrier to their precise application in clinical translation that may probably lead to uncertain therapeutic effects. To give hints for future clinical translation, five MSCs are employed, whose derived EVs are most intensively utilized, namely bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BMMSCs), umbilical cord stem/stromal cells (UCSCs), adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs), dermal stem/stromal cells (DSCs) and dental pulp stem/stromal cells (DPSCs) and the heterogeneity landscape of the corresponding MSC-EVs are documented. Overall, the basic parameters, stability, and biosafety of different MSC-EVs are indiscriminate. Strikingly, UCSC-EVs exhibit distinguishing productivity. UCSC-EVs as well as DPSC-EVs present better drug loading/delivery capacity. In addition, the heterogeneity of different MSC-EVs in cargo diversity, cellular affinity, organ biodistribution, and therapeutic effects may cue the rational selection in different disease treatments. Through a combined assessment, a rational strategy is combined for selecting MSC-EVs in future clinics. Offering a panoramic view of MSC-EVs harvested from different tissues, the current study may provide guidelines for the precise selection of MSC-EVs in next-generation therapeutics.

Automated summary

This study investigates the heterogeneity of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) harvested from different tissues. It finds that there is no difference in the basic parameters, stability, and biosafety of different MSC-EVs. However, umbilical cord stem/stromal cell (UCSC) EVs and dental pulp stem/stromal cell (DPSC) EVs demonstrate better drug loading/delivery capacity. The heterogeneity of different MSC-EVs in cargo diversity, cellular affinity, organ biodistribution, and therapeutic effects may guide the rational selection in different disease treatments. A combined assessment provides a rational strategy for selecting MSC-EVs in future clinics.