HWJMSC-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorate IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury through regulation of the BMP2/RUNX2 axis via up-regulation TFRC.

Articular osteochondral injury is a common and frequently occurring disease in orthopedics that is caused by aging, disease, and trauma. The cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a crucial mediator of the inflammatory response, which exacerbates damage during chronic disease and acute tissue injury. Human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cell (HWJMSC) extracellular vesicles (HWJMSC-EVs) have been shown to promote cartilage regeneration. The study aimed to investigate the influence and mechanisms of HWJMSC-EVs on the viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle of IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. HWJMSC-EVs were isolated by Ribo™ Exosome Isolation Reagent kit. Nanoparticle tracking analysis was used to determine the size and concentration of HWJMSC-EVs. We characterized HWJMSC-EVs by western blot and transmission electron microscope. The differentiation, viability, and protein level of chondrocytes were measured by Alcian blue staining, Cell Counting Kit-8, and western blot, respectively. Flow cytometer was used to determine apoptosis and cell cycle of chondrocytes. The results showed that HWJMSCs relieved IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury by inhibiting apoptosis and elevating viability and cell cycle of chondrocyte, which was reversed with exosome inhibitor (GW4869). HWJMSC-EVs were successfully extracted and proven to be uptake by chondrocytes. HWJMSC-EVs ameliorate IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury by inhibiting cell apoptosis and elevating viability and cycle of cell, but these effects were effectively reversed by knockdown of transferrin receptor (TFRC). Notably, using bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) pathway agonist and inhibitor suggested that HWJMSC-EVs ameliorate IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury through activating the BMP2 pathway via up-regulation TFRC. Furthermore, over-expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) reversed the effects of BMP2 pathway inhibitor promotion of IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury. These results suggested that HWJMSC-EVs ameliorate IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury by regulating the BMP2/RUNX2 axis via up-regulation TFRC. HWJMSC-EVs may play a new insight for early medical interventions in patients with articular osteochondral injury.