Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (7): 1616-1623.doi: 10.12307/2026.520

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Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes combined with transforming growth factor beta 1 on macrophages

Song Puzhen1, Ma Hebin1, Chen Hongguang2, Zhang Yadong2   

  1. 1Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing 100853, China; 2Department of Orthopedic Medicine, Fourth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China
  • Received:2024-12-02 Revised:2025-03-05 Accepted:2025-03-19 Online:2026-03-08 Published:2025-08-17
  • Contact: Zhang Yadong, MD, Professor, Department of Orthopedic Medicine, Fourth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China
  • About author:Song Puzhen, Master candidate, Attending physician, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing 100853, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82072451 (to ZYD); Beijing Science and Technology Plan Project Funds, No. Z221100007422014 (to ZYD)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease caused by multiple factors. Studies have found that macrophage polarization plays an important role in osteoarthritis. M1 macrophages release pro-inflammatory factors to promote the development of osteoarthritis, while M2 macrophages produce anti-inflammatory factors to inhibit the development of osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes combined with transforming growth factor β1 on the polarization of macrophages, and explore a new method for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes were extracted by differential centrifugal method and identified by transmission electron microscopy, particle size analysis, and western blot assay. Macrophages were treated with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes, transforming growth factor β1, and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes + transforming growth factor β1 for 24 hours. The macrophages without intervention were used as the control group. The distribution of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in macrophages was observed by confocal microscopy. The effect of macrophage polarization was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western blot assay.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes were crescent-shaped, with average particle size of about 115 nm. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes expressed the specific protein CD63. (2) Compared with the control group, the expressions of anti-inflammatory factors interleukin-10 and CD163 increased in the other three groups, and the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β decreased, and the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes + transforming growth factor β1 group were the most significant (P < 0.001). The results show that the combination of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes and transforming growth factor β1 more effectively promotes the polarization of M1-type macrophages to M2-type macrophages.


Key words: em cell-derived exosome, transforming growth factor β1, macrophage polarization, M1 macrophage, M2 macrophage, pro-inflammatory factor, anti-inflamm

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