CD9-enriched extracellular vesicles from chemically reprogrammed basal progenitors of salivary glands mitigate salivary gland fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from stem cells offer promising potential for cell-free therapy. However, refining their cargo for precise disease targeting and delivery remains challenging. This study employed chemical reprogramming via dual inhibition of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) to expand salivary gland basal progenitor cells (sgBPCs). CD9-enriched (CD9⁺) EVs were then isolated from the sgBPC secretome concentrate using a dual microfluidic chip. Notably, CD9⁺ EVs demonstrated superior uptake by salivary epithelial cells compared to CD9-depleted (CD9^-) EVs and total EVs. In vivo studies using a salivary gland (SG) obstruction mouse model and ex vivo studies in SG fibrosis organoids revea

SUBMITTER: Park S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11803853 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature