Deferoxamine preconditioning of canine stem cell derived extracellular vesicles alleviates inflammation in an EAE mouse model through STAT3 regulation.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), specifically those preconditioned with deferoxamine (DFO) in canine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (cAT-MSCs), were explored for treating autoimmune diseases. This study assessed the effects of DFO-preconditioned EVs (EV) in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model. cAT-MSCs were treated with DFO for 48 h, after which EVs were isolated. EAE mice received intranasal EV or EVtreatments and were euthanized following histopathologic analysis; RNA and protein expression levels were measured. Histologically, EV and EVgroups showed a significant reduction in inflammatory cell infiltration and demyelination. Immunofluorescence revealed increased CD206 and Foxp3 expression, indicating elevated M2 macrophages and regulatory T (Treg) cells, particularly in the EVgroup. Treg cells also notably increased in the spleen of EV-treated mice. STAT3 and pSTAT3 proteins were upregulated in the EAE groups compared to the naïve group. However, following EV treatment, STAT3 expression decreased compared to the EAE group, whereas pSTAT3 expression was similar in both the EV and EAE groups. In conclusion, EVtreatment resulted in reduced STAT3 expression, suggesting its role in T cell regulation and the potential of EVin modulating the STAT3 pathway for reducing inflammation more effectively than non-preconditioned EVs.