Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (31): 6782-6791.doi: 10.12307/2025.660

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Mesenchymal stem cells and extracellular vesicles in repair of endometrial injury

Xiong Zhenghua1, 2, Zhou Jianghong2, Shen Yi2, Han Xuesong2   

  1. 1Department of Gynecology of First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan Province, China; 2Department of Gynecology of Yan’an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University/Yan’an Hospital of Kunming City, Kunming 650051, Yunnan Province, China
  • Received:2024-07-04 Accepted:2024-08-12 Online:2025-11-08 Published:2025-02-27
  • Contact: Han Xuesong, MD, Chief physician, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Gynecology of Yan’an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University/Yan’an Hospital of Kunming City, Kunming 650051, Yunnan Province, China
  • About author:Xiong Zhenghua, Doctoral candidate, Department of Gynecology of First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan Province, China; Department of Gynecology of Yan’an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University/Yan’an Hospital of Kunming City, Kunming 650051, Yunnan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81960269 (to HXS); Yunnan Province “Ten Thousand People Plan” Famous Doctor Special Project, No. RLHXS20210331 (to HXS); Yunnan Province Medical Leadership Talent Training Program Project, No. L-2019005 (to HXS); Special Key Project of Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department-Kunming Medical University Joint, No. 202401AY070001-374 (to HXS); Scientific Research Fund Project of Yunnan Provincial Education Department, No. 2024Y242 (to XZH)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Endometrial injury is a common benign disease in women of reproductive age, which seriously affects their fertility and reproductive health. In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells and their secreted extracellular vesicles, as a new therapeutic strategy, have received much attention in the repair of endometrial injury.
OBJECTIVE: To review the application of mesenchymal stem cells and their secreted extracellular vesicles in the treatment of endometrial injury, to comprehensively understand the therapeutic mechanism and efficacy of endometrial injury, and to discuss the potential and challenges of the application of mesenchymal stem cells and their secreted extracellular vesicles in the treatment of endometrial injury, in order to provide theoretical basis for further basic and clinical research. 
METHODS: Literature searches were conducted in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Medical Full-text Database, and PubMed electronic databases using search terms “mesenchymal stem cells, extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells, exosome, endometrial injury, intrauterine adhesion, Asherman’s syndrome” in Chinese and English. Articles were selected through manual screening to exclude duplicates and irrelevant studies, resulting in the inclusion of 87 articles.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Mesenchymal stem cells and their secreted extracellular vesicles can participate in endometrial damage repair through a variety of molecular mechanisms, such as anti-fibrosis, promoting angiogenesis and cell proliferation, cell homing, immune regulation, and endometrial receptibility regulation. A large number of research results have been achieved in cell and animal experiments, and preliminary results of clinical studies have also achieved certain curative effects, including increased endometrial thickness, improved menstrual volume and fertility. However, difficulty and challenges persist in the application of mesenchymal stem cells and their secreted extracellular vesicles for endometrial injury treatment. During treatment, it is necessary to enhance the quality and stability of mesenchymal stem cells and their secreted extracellular vesicles, as well as clarifying their roles in processes such as cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Moreover, large-scale multicenter clinical trials are needed to validate the long-term safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells and their secreted extracellular vesicles in endometrial repair, and to determine optimal dosages and administration routes. Continuous advancements in scientific technologies and the auxiliary application of bioengineering materials offer hope for developing more effective and safer therapeutic methods for endometrial injury treatment and the above problems will be solved in the future.  


Key words: stem cell, mesenchymal stem cell, extracellular vesicle, paracrine, intrauterine adhesion, endometrium, tissue repair, engineered stem cell, engineered extracellular vesicle

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