Distinct Anti-Fibrotic Effects of Exosomes Derived from Endothelial Colony-Forming Cells Cultured Under Normoxia and Hypoxia.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND The therapeutic potential of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) may be impaired in an ischemic environment. Direct injection of ECFCs is not an effective method of rescuing the ischemic heart, but exosomes derived from these cells may be a promising therapeutic tool. However, exosomes produced under normoxia and hypoxia may not be identical. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate alterations in the anti-fibrotic effects of hypoxia-treated ECFC-derived exosomes and the underlying mechanism involved. MATERIAL AND METHODS ECFCs were isolated from peripheral blood and exosomes were collected from ECFCs treated with normoxia (nor-exo) or hypoxia (hyp-exo). Effects of exosomes on cardiac fibroblast activation were evaluated in vitro. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) inside th

SUBMITTER: Liu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6134891 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature