{
  "abstract": "Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, yet effective brain-targeted delivery strategies remain limited. Exosomes represent promising carriers capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier. This study investigated whether engineered exosomes delivering miR-22-3p by modulating the FURIN/HMGB1 axis.\n\nMethods: Serum microRNA expression was assessed in patients with MDD. A rat model of depression was established using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). miR-22-3p-engineered adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell exosomes were administered intranasally. Behavioral tests (SPT, OFT, FST), RT-qPCR, ELISA, HE staining, and TUNEL assays were performed to evaluate neurobehavioral and molecular changes.\n\nResults: miR-22-3p was significantly downregulated in both MDD patients and CUMS rats (P < 0.01). Intranasal administration of engineered exosomes increased brain miR-22-3p levels and significantly improved depressive-like behaviors (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Mechanistically, treatment suppressed FURIN and HMGB1 expression, reduced proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), and attenuated hippocampal neuronal apoptosis (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These effects were more pronounced than those of native exosomes.\n\nConclusions: miR-22-3p-engineered exosomes exert antidepressant effects by inhibiting the FURIN/HMGB1-mediated neuroinflammatory and apoptotic pathways. This study highlights a novel intranasal exosome-based microRNA delivery strategy for MDD.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine",
    "The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese",
    "Guangxi University",
    "Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region",
    "Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yuxin Xu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Yanqiu You"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Dekai Wei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rong Liang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Weiping Liang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Bingzheng Feng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jibing Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jia Liang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Fujun Li"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e4mr9gsf4cne8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1924891",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13710244",
  "id": "e4mr9gsf4cne8",
  "issns": [
    "1663-9812"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1924891/full",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Extracellular vesicles in disease"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221584926",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1924891/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13710244",
  "pmid": "42947966",
  "published": "2026-10-13",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e4mr9gsf4cne8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:06Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fphar.2026.1924891",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1924891/full"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T00:20:34Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42947966",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42947966"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:21:16Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13710244",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2026.1924891"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|Extracellular vesicles in disease",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-22-3p alleviates depression-like behaviors in a rat model via the FURIN/HMGB1 axis",
  "title_text": "Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-22-3p alleviates depression-like behaviors in a rat model via the FURIN/HMGB1 axis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T12:21:16Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e4mr9gsf4cne8",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Pharmacology",
  "versions": []
}