Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Ameliorated Diabetic Nephropathy by Autophagy Induction through the mTOR Signaling Pathway

• Main Authors: Nesrine Ebrahim, Inas A. Ahmed, Noha I. Hussien, Arigue A. Dessouky, Ayman Samir Farid, Amal M. Elshazly, Ola Mostafa, Walaa Bayoumie El Gazzar, Safwa M. Sorour, Yasmin Seleem, Ahmed M. Hussein, Dina Sabry
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-11-01
• Series: Cells
• Subjects: diabetic nephropathy; exosomes; autophagy; mTOR
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/7/12/226

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus and a common cause of end-stage renal disease. Autophagy has a defensive role against kidney damage caused by hyperglycemia. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes are currently considered as a new promising therapy for chronic renal injury. However, the renal-protective mechanism of exosomes on DN is not completely understood. We examined the potential role of MSC-derived exosomes for enhancement of autophagy activity and their effect on DN. In our study, we used five groups of rats: control; DN; DN treated with exosomes; DN treated with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and chloroquine (inhibitors of autophagy); and DN treated with 3-methyladenine (3-MA), chloroquine, and exosome groups. We assessed renal function, morphology, and fibrosis. Moreover, ratios of the autophagy markers mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), Beclin-1, light chain-3 (LC3-II), and LC3-II/LC3-I were detected. Additionally, electron microscopy was used for detection of autophagosomes. Results: Exosomes markedly improved renal function and showed histological restoration of renal tissues, with significant increase of LC3 and Beclin-1, and significant decrease of mTOR and fibrotic marker expression in renal tissue. All previous effects were partially abolished by the autophagy inhibitors chloroquine and 3-MA. Conclusion: We conclude that autophagy induction by exosomes could attenuate DN in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus.