Table 3.
List of components of the mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) molecular cargo selected for their known potential to regulate the immune response.
| MSC-Exo Molecular Cargo Component | Function | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galectin-1 | Galectin-1 functions as a homeostatic agent by modulating innate and adaptive immune responses [233]. Galectin-1 inhibits cell growth, induces cell cycle arrest, and promotes apoptosis of activated immune cells [234,235,236]. | [130,214] |
| Programmed death-ligand 1 | PD-L1 is a crucial part of the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 pathway, which regulates T cell responses and its effects on immunological tolerance and immune-mediated tissue damage [237]. | [214] |
| Transforming growth factor-β | TGF-β is a potent cytokine having effects on many different cells in the immune system (including T cells and dendritic cells) and exerting both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects depending on the context in which it is acting [238]. | [106,129,214] |
| miR-21 | miR-21 acts as a negative regulator of T cell activation by targeting guanine nucleotide-binding protein G subunit alpha (GNAQ), pleckstrin homology domain-containing family A member 1 (PLEKHA1), and CXCR4 [239]. Mature miR-21 regulates the anti-inflammatory responses and polarises macrophages to the M2 phenotype [240]. | [110,123,133,223] |
| miR-22 | miR-22 ameliorates fibrosis and improves cardiac function post-MI [241]. | [173] |
| miR-24 | miR-24 limits aortic vascular inflammation through interaction with CHI3L-1, which itself is a regulator of inflammation and tissue remodelling [216]. | [110,176,216] |
| miR-29 | miR-29 reduces fibrosis via repression of several collagen genes [215]. | [110] |
| miR-34a-5p | miR-34a-5p is a central regulator of NF-κB in T cells [234,242] and differentiation towards M2 macrophage polarisation [243]. | [223] |
| miR-133 | miR-133 ameliorates fibrosis and improves cardiac function post-MI [244]. | [232] |
| miR-146a-5p | miR-146a can contribute towards M1 to M2 polarisation by downregulating M1-marker genes [245]. | [223] |
| miR-181a | miR-181a inhibits the inflammatory response through interaction with the c-Fos protein, a key immunoactivator that contributes to dendritic cell-related immune functions [217]. | [217] |
| miR-182 | miR-182 interacts with the TLR4/NF-κB/PI3K/AKT pathway, regulate regulator of macrophage polarisation [218]. | [218] |