BMSC-derived exosomes ameliorate sulfur mustard-induced acute lung injury by regulating the GPRC5A-YAP axis.

Guan-Chao Mao, Chu-Chu Gong, Zhen Wang, Ming-Xue Sun, Zhi-Peng Pei, Wen-Qi Meng, Jin-Feng Cen, Xiao-Wen He, Ying Lu, Qing-Qiang Xu, Kai Xiao

Acta pharmacologica Sinica 2021 Dec

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Sulfur mustard (SM) is a highly toxic chemical warfare agent that causes acute lung injury (ALI) and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There are no effective therapeutic treatments or antidotes available currently to counteract its toxic effects. Our previous study shows that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) could exert therapeutic effects against SM-induced lung injury. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of BMSC-derived exosomes (BMSC-Exs) against ALI and the underlying mechanisms. ALI was induced in mice by injection of SM (30 mg/kg, sc) at their medial and dorsal surfaces. BMSC-Exs (20 μg/kg in 200 μL PBS, iv) were injected for a 5-day period after SM exposure. We showed that BMSC-Exs administration caused a protective effect against pulmonary edema. Using a lung epithelial cell barrier model, BMSC-Exs (10, 20, 40 μg) dose-dependently inhibited SM-induced cell apoptosis and promoted the recovery of epithelial barrier function by facilitating the expression and relocalization of junction proteins (E-cadherin, claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1). We further demonstrated that BMSC-Exs protected against apoptosis and promoted the restoration of barrier function against SM through upregulating G protein-coupled receptor family C group 5 type A (GPRC5A), a retinoic acid target gene predominately expressed in the epithelial cells of the lung. Knockdown of GPRC5A reduced the antiapoptotic and barrier regeneration abilities of BMSC-Exs and diminished their therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo. BMSC-Exs-caused upregulation of GPRC5A promoted the expression of Bcl-2 and junction proteins via regulating the YAP pathway. In summary, BMSC-Exs treatment exerts protective effects against SM-induced ALI by promoting alveolar epithelial barrier repair and may be an alternative approach to stem cell-based therapy. © 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to CPS and SIMM.

Citation

Guan-Chao Mao, Chu-Chu Gong, Zhen Wang, Ming-Xue Sun, Zhi-Peng Pei, Wen-Qi Meng, Jin-Feng Cen, Xiao-Wen He, Ying Lu, Qing-Qiang Xu, Kai Xiao. BMSC-derived exosomes ameliorate sulfur mustard-induced acute lung injury by regulating the GPRC5A-YAP axis. Acta pharmacologica Sinica. 2021 Dec;42(12):2082-2093