Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (19): 4825-4835.doi: 10.12307/2026.245

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Acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles promote osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Zhong Zhuolan1, Peng Zhina1, Tian Xiaohong2, Han Cuifei3, Zhang Zihan3, Chu Jiaqi4   

  1. 1First Clinical Medical College of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524001, Guangdong Province, China; 2Hebei PetroChina Central Hospital, Langfang 065000, Hebei Province, China; 3Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524003, Guangdong Province, China; 4Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524001, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2025-08-08 Accepted:2025-12-10 Online:2026-07-08 Published:2026-02-13
  • Contact: Chu Jiaqi, Associate researcher, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524001, Guangdong Province, China
  • About author:Zhong Zhuolan, MS candidate, First Clinical Medical College of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524001, Guangdong Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Guangdong Medical University Affiliated Hospital "Clinical Medicine" Science and Technology Co-construction Platform Project, No. CLP2021A001 (to CJQ) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND:  Acanthopanax and its extracts exhibit osteogenic effects, but the osteogenic potential and mechanisms of acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles remain unclear. 
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanism by which acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles promote osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and their preventive role in osteoporosis.
METHODS: (1) Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were extracted by gradient density centrifugation. Exosome-like nanovesicles derived from acanthopanax were isolated by differential centrifugation and sucrose gradient density centrifugation. (2) Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were treated with 0, 2.5, and 5 μg/mL acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles. Osteogenic differentiation was assessed by alkaline phosphatase staining, Alizarin red staining, qRT-PCR, and western blot assay. (3) Key pathways were identified by transcriptome sequencing and validated with a transforming growth factor β1 receptor inhibitor. (4) An ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis was established. After 12 weeks of intraperitoneal injection of exosome-like nanovesicles derived from acanthopanax, bone microstructure was analyzed by micro-CT and osteogenic protein expression was assessed by histological staining. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles exhibited a cup-shaped or discoid morphology. (2) In vitro, acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles dose-dependently promoted osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, as evidenced by increased alkaline phosphatase activity, enhanced mineralization nodule formation, and upregulated osteogenic gene expression. (3) Transcriptome analysis revealed that exosome-like nanovesicles activated the transforming growth factor-β1/Smad2/3 pathway, upregulating transforming growth factor-β1 and phosphorylated Smad2/3 protein expression. Moreover, the transforming growth factor-β1 receptor inhibitor partially inhibited the osteogenic effects. (4) Animal experimental results demonstrated that treatment with 5 mg/kg exosome-like nanovesicles from acanthopanax significantly increased bone mineral density, bone volume fraction, and trabecular thickness in ovariectomized rats (P < 0.05), significantly enhanced collagen fibrillogenesis, and upregulated the expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2, osteocalcin, and transforming growth factor-β1 proteins in bone tissue. No significant toxicity was observed in major organ histological observations. Results showed that exosome-like nanovesicles derived from acanthopanax promote osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by activating the transforming growth factor β1/Smad2/3 pathway and effectively improve osteoporosis.

Key words: acanthopanax, exosome-like nanovesicles, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, transforming growth factor-β1 signaling pathway, Smad2/3, osteogenic differentiation, osteoporosis, transcriptome sequencing, engineered stem cells

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