HIF-1α overexpression in mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome-encapsulated arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) hydrogels boost therapeutic efficacy of cardiac repair after myocardial infarction

• Published in: Materials today bio Vol. 12; p. 100171
• Main Authors: Wang, Qingjie, Zhang, Le, Sun, Zhiqin, Chi, Boyu, Zou, Ailin, Mao, Lipeng, Xiong, Xu, Jiang, JianGuang, Sun, Ling, Zhu, Wenwu, Ji, Yuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Extracellular Vesicles; Full Length; Hypoxia inducible factor-1α; Mesenchymal stem cells; myocardial infarction; Hypoxia inducible factor-1α; Extracellular Vesicles; myocardial infarction; Mesenchymal stem cells
• ISSN: 2590-0064; 2590-0064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.100171

Naturally secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in stem-mediated cardioprotection. This study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective function and underlying mechanisms of EVs derived from HIF-1α engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a rat model of AMI. EVs isolated from HIF-1α engineered MSCs (HIF-1α-EVs) and control MSCs (NC-EVs) were prepared. In in vitro experiments, the EVs were incubated with cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells exposed to hypoxia and serum deprivation (H/SD); in in vivo experiments, the EVs were injected in the acutely infarcted hearts of Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared with NC-EVs, HIF-1α-EVs significantly inhibited the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and enhanced angiogenesis of endothelial cells; meanwhile, HIF-1α-EVs also significantly shrunk fibrotic area and strengthened cardiac function in infarcted rats. After treatment with EVs/RGD-biotin hydrogels, we observed longer retention, higher stability in HIF-1α-EVs, and stronger cardiac function in the rats. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) displayed that miRNA-221–3p was highly expressed in HIF-1α-EVs. After miR-221–3p was inhibited in HIF-1α-EVs, the biological effects of HIF-1α EVs on apoptosis and angiogenesis were attenuated. EVs released by MSCs with HIF-1α overexpression can promote the angiogenesis of endothelial cells and the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes via upregulating the expression of miR-221–3p. RGD hydrogels can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of HIF-1α engineered MSCs-derived EVs. [Display omitted]