Macrophage Modulation and Tubular Repair in Acute Kidney Injury via PEG–Hyaluronic Acid-Engineered Extracellular Vesicles
발표자
강희건 (성균관대학교)
연구책임자
박재형 (성균관대학교)
초록
내용
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by the damage to tubular epithelial cells (TECs), resulting in the rapid deterioration of the kidneys. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory macrophages (M1) near AKI impede regeneration and hinder therapeutic interventions. Therefore, we developed extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated hyaluronic acid (PHA) coated mesenchymal stem cells. Hyaluronic acid (HA) conjugated EV functions as a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antagonist, which inhibits the polarization of macrophages towards the M1 phenotype. In addition, HA targets CD44, which is overexpressed on injured TECs, enabling the selective delivery of PHA-EVs and promoting tissue reparation. The therapeutic efficacy of PHA-EVs was verified in vitro and in vivo by confirming suppression of M1 polarization and enhancement of TEC recovery. Consequently, this study demonstrates an innovative approach with potential for clinical translation in AKI therapy.