Exosomes from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells prevent cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by oxidative stress

Exosomes from bone marrow stem cells or cardiac progenitor cells can reduce apoptosis in myocardial cells after ischemia and reperfusion injury. However, there is little known about the effects of exosomes from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), which are more abundant and have a lower risk of side effects. The aim of this study was to characterize exosomes from ADSCs and evaluate their cardioprotective actions against ischemia reperfusion injury. The exosomes were isolated from ADSCs and analyzed by protein marker expression, transmission electron microscopy, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The ADSC-exosomes were then used for ex vivo investigation of the cardioprotective effects on cardiomyocytes after exposure to oxidative stress. Exosomes from ADSCs exhibited a diameter of 150 nm and expressed the marker proteins, CD9 and CD29. ADSC-exosomes had no effect on proliferation of untreated cardiomyocytes. In contrast, ADSC-derived exosomes reduced apoptosis in myocardial cells subjected to oxidative stress. This study confirms that exosomes originating from ADSCs can protect cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress.