Assessment of the effects of mesenchymal stem cells-derived microvesicles on rheumatoid arthritic male rats

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive, autoimmune disease caused by a malfunction of the immune system. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-arthritic effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) derived microvesicles (MVs). Method: Thirty male rats were divided into 3 equal groups (control, RA, and RA treated with microvesicles groups). Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) was used to establish RA in the animals by subcutaneous injection of 100 µL CFA/rat into plantar region of right hind leg in two consecutive days. RA rats were intravenously injected with MVs (100 μg protein/rat/week) into lateral tail vein of CFA-induced arthritic rats for 3 weeks. Results: CFA injection was deleterious to the ankle joints. CFA-induced arthritic rats showed high levels of serum pro-inflammatory mediators, such as rheumatoid factor (RF), tumour necrosis-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). MVs treatment significantly lowered these pro-inflammatory mediators and increased serum level of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. Conclusion: MSC MVs exerted anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory effects in CFA-induced arthritic rats.