Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (13): 3424-3434.doi: 10.12307/2026.325

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Gene transfection technology and tissue fibrosis repair

Wu Xianyuan1, Zhang Nini1, Huang Guilin2   

  1. 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou Province, China; 2The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong Province, China
  • Accepted:2025-07-04 Online:2026-05-08 Published:2025-12-26
  • Contact: Zhang Nini, MS, Associate professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou Province, China
  • About author:Wu Xianyuan, Master candidate, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81860198 (to ZNN); National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81960204 (to HGL)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In recent years, studies have found that exosomes have great potential in the field of tissue injury repair. As natural nanoscale vesicle carriers, they have the advantages of low immunogenicity and good biocompatibility, and play an important role in intercellular communication. Engineering cells genetically and enabling them to exert tissue repair functions through paracrine action has become a focus of current researchers.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the role of gene transfection technology in the repair of pulmonary, hepatic, cardiac, renal, and salivary gland fibrosis, and to prospect the future research directions and development trends of engineered exosome.
METHODS: Relevant literature searches were conducted in the PubMed database using keywords such as “gene transfection, gene therapy, transfection, tissue fibrosis, mechanism of fibrosis, radiation-induced salivary gland injury, repair,” and in the CNKI database using keywords such as “gene transfection, gene therapy, tissue fibrosis, fibrosis mechanisms, radiation-induced salivary gland injury, tissue repair.” Through rapid review of article titles and abstracts, articles that were not closely related to the topic were excluded. Finally, 80 articles were selected for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Exogenous genes were introduced into the target cells through genetically engineered stem cells and exosomes derived from genetically engineered stem cells, which can play the role of anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammation and anti-fibrosis, and play an important role in the repair of lung, liver, heart, kidney and salivary gland fibrosis injury diseases. (2) As a natural nano scale intercellular communication carrier, exosomes have gradually become a new carrier for gene therapy due to their excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity and high cellular uptake ability. The exosome based on genetic engineering stem cells overcomes the limitations of cell life, low efficiency of cell implantation, and the risk of immune rejection and tumor formation caused by cell transplantation during traditional stem cell transplantation, and has higher safety and more effective targeted delivery ability. (3) The targeted technology of exosomes enhances its targeting by means of genetic engineering and chemical modification, and further improves the therapeutic effect by the separation technology based on microfluidic and interdisciplinary joint treatment strategy. However, at present, there are few studies on the use of genetically engineered cells to play the role of tissue repair through paracrine, and most of them are only based on in vitro experimental studies or in small animal models, lacking large animal models and long-term safety evaluation data. In the future, it is still necessary to strengthen clinical transformation research to further verify its treatment safety and long-term effectiveness.

Key words: fibrosis, myofibroblasts, gene therapy, gene transfection, tissue repair, exosomes, paracrine, exosome targeted modification

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