Abstract
This research investigated the therapeutic efficacy and potential targets of exosomes derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC-Exo) in the context of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). UC-MSC-Exo were isolated from the culture supernatant. A model of COPD was induced through exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) and airway lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation. Mice in the UC-MSC-Exo group received 100 µg of exosomes via tail vein injection. Lung function, computed tomography imaging of the lungs, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell count, plasma levels of inflammatory factors, as well as histological assessments using hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson’s trichrome staining of lung tissue were employed to assess the therapeutic efficacy. Single-cell transcriptome sequencing was utilized to investigate the potential targets of UC-MSC-Exo in improving lung function and exerting anti-inflammatory effects in COPD mouse models. The UC-MSC-Exo group exhibited significant enhancements in pulmonary function parameters, attenuation of lung CT abnormalities, reduced BALF cell counts, and decreased levels of plasma inflammatory markers. Histological analysis confirmed decreased inflammatory infiltration and collagen deposition. Single-cell sequencing analysis suggested that UC-MSC-Exo might modulate CXCR4 expression, suppress inflammation, and facilitate lung regeneration by modulating macrophage functionality. This investigation introduces novel therapeutic avenues and potential targets for managing COPD.
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The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author(s).
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Acknowledgements
Thank you very much to all the authors who participated in this paper.
Funding
This work was supported by the Kashi Regional Science and Technology Program Projects (No. KS2023012).
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X.Z. conceived and designed the study. Y.Z., L.L., J.X. performed the experiments. Y.Z., H.G, Z.A. conducted the analysis. Y.Z. wrote thearticle with the help of all other authors. All authors edited and proofread the article.
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The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Animal Experiment Center of Xinjiang Medical University (IACUC−20231010−06 and 2023.10.10 of approval).
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Zhou, Y., Li, L., Xu, J. et al. Therapeutic effects and potential targets of UC-MSC-Exo in a mouse model of COPD. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34896-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34896-2
