Anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles

doi:10.12307/2026.153

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Recently, nanotechnology has shown potential in anti-inflammatory treatment, but nanodrug systems face challenges in production costs, process complexity, and biosafety. Chinese herbal medicine-derived vesicle technology, with advantages like abundant sources and good biocompatibility, has emerged as a new research hotspot in traditional Chinese medicine.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-inflammatory biological activity and mechanism of Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles.
METHODS: Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles were extracted using ultracentrifugation and characterized. The uptake of Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles by RAW264.7 cells and their biocompatibility were evaluated using CCK-8 assays, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy. A lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation model was established to investigate the effects of Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles on inflammatory mediators and macrophage phenotypes. Transcriptomics was used to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles had a particle size of (79.42±23.12) nm, with typical cup-shaped vesicle and membrane structures, and showed good stability in simulated gastrointestinal digestion. (2) Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles were non-toxic to RAW264.7 cells, with an uptake rate exceeding 90% after 8 hours. (3) In inflammatory models, Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles significantly reduced interleukin-6, interleukin-1β and cyclooxygenase-2 levels, inhibited M1 macrophage polarization, and restored interleukin-10 and CD206 levels. (4) Transcriptomic analysis suggests that Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles exert anti-inflammatory effects by modulating key inflammatory signaling pathways such as tumor necrosis factor, nuclear factor κB, and Toll-like receptors. These findings demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory activity of Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles, providing experimental evidence for their potential as a novel anti-inflammatory drug delivery system and offering a new option for treating inflammatory diseases.

Key words: inflammation, transcriptomics, Lonicera japonica Thunb, extracellular vesicle-like particles, Chinese herbal medicine-derived extracellular vesicle, RAW264.7 cell, inflammatory mediator, macrophage polarization

CLC Number:

Chen Yuanjun, Lin Sixing, Ji Lichun, Li Dongxiao, Liao Guangzhi, Lin Xingdong. Anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of Lonicera japonica Thunb.-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2026, 30(13): 3308-3320.

Figures/Tables 7

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