Exosomes secreted from miRNA-29b-modified mesenchymal stem cells repaired spinal cord injury in rats

Exosomes, a kind of extracellular vesicle, are promising therapeutic agents for spinal cord injury (SCI). This article aimed to investigate effects of exosomes secreted from miRNA-29b-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on SCI. Exosomes were extracted from BMSCs transfected with miRNA-29b or negative control (miR NC). SCI rats were injected intravenously with exosomes (control exosomes, miRNA-29b exosomes) and BMSCs (miR NC, miRNA-29b) through the tail vein. The expression of miRNA-29b in spinal cord tissues of SCI rats was detected by qRT-PCR. The hind limb motor function was evaluated by Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) score. The histopathological damage and neuronal regeneration in spinal cord tissues was observed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The injection of miRNA-29b exosomes and miRNA-29b BMSCs both significantly increased the expression of miRNA-29b in spinal cord tissues of SCI rats (P