Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells and their small extracellular vesicles modulate host responses to titanium-coated polypropylene mesh in the vaginal wall of rats
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- 2Cell Therapy Center, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- 3National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, and Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- 4Department of Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Lishui University, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, China
Abstract
Objective: To assess whether human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (HUCMSCs) or HUCMSC-derived small extracellular vesicles (HUCMSC-sEVs) modify tissue responses to titanium-coated polypropylene mesh in the rat vaginal wall.
Methods: Fifty-four ovariectomized female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to saline-control, HUCMSC-sEV, or HUCMSC groups (18 each). After mesh implantation, animals received one 0.3-mL local injection. Independent cohorts were assessed at 1, 4, and 12 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining evaluated inflammatory cell infiltration, neovascularization, and fibrous encapsulation; picrosirius red staining assessed collagen composition and the COL I/COL III ratio; and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction measured inflammation- and matrix-remodeling-related genes. The animal was the experimental unit, and false discovery rate adjustment was applied to multiple comparisons.
Results: At week 1, inflammatory cell infiltration was lower in the HUCMSC-sEV group than in the saline-control group, while interleukin-10, interleukin-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA expression was lower in both intervention groups. At week 4, both interventions reduced fibrous encapsulation and increased matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 mRNA expression. At week 12, the type I/type III collagen ratio was lower in both intervention groups, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 mRNA expression was higher in both intervention groups, and type III collagen gene expression was higher in the HUCMSC group.
Conclusion: HUCMSCs and HUCMSC-sEVs were associated with changes in early inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine-transcript expression, fibrous encapsulation, and later collagen- and matrix-related measures after mesh implantation. The partially overlapping response patterns observed between HUCMSC-sEVs and HUCMSCs support further investigation of HUCMSC-sEVs as a cell-free approach to modulating mesh-associated host responses.
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BibTeX
@article{ai2026human,
title = {{Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells and their small extracellular vesicles modulate host responses to titanium-coated polypropylene mesh in the vaginal wall of rats}},
author = {Fangfang Ai and Chunbin Wang and Gang Wang and Xi Wen and Zhiguo Chen and Shijun Wang},
journal = {Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fbioe.2026.1985008},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2026.1985008},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells and their small extracellular vesicles modulate host responses to titanium-coated polypropylene mesh in the vaginal wall of rats
AU - Fangfang Ai
AU - Chunbin Wang
AU - Gang Wang
AU - Xi Wen
AU - Zhiguo Chen
AU - Shijun Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
DO - 10.3389/fbioe.2026.1985008
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2026.1985008
AB - Objective: To assess whether human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (HUCMSCs) or HUCMSC-derived small extracellular vesicles (HUCMSC-sEVs) modify tissue responses to titanium-coated polypropylene mesh in the rat vaginal wall. Methods: Fifty-four ovariectomized female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to saline-control, HUCMSC-sEV, or HUCMSC groups (18 each). After mesh implantation, animals received one 0.3-mL local injection. Independent cohorts were assessed at 1, 4, and 12 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining evaluated inflammatory cell infiltration, neovascularization, and fibrous encapsulation; picrosirius red staining assessed collagen composition and the COL I/COL III ratio; and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction measured inflammation- and matrix-remodeling-related genes. The animal was the experimental unit, and false discovery rate adjustment was applied to multiple comparisons. Results: At week 1, inflammatory cell infiltration was lower in the HUCMSC-sEV group than in the saline-control group, while interleukin-10, interleukin-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA expression was lower in both intervention groups. At week 4, both interventions reduced fibrous encapsulation and increased matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 mRNA expression. At week 12, the type I/type III collagen ratio was lower in both intervention groups, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 mRNA expression was higher in both intervention groups, and type III collagen gene expression was higher in the HUCMSC group. Conclusion: HUCMSCs and HUCMSC-sEVs were associated with changes in early inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine-transcript expression, fibrous encapsulation, and later collagen- and matrix-related measures after mesh implantation. The partially overlapping response patterns observed between HUCMSC-sEVs and HUCMSCs support further investigation of HUCMSC-sEVs as a cell-free approach to modulating mesh-associated host responses.
SN - 2296-4185
ER -