The Therapeutic Potential of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Exosomes in Acute Radiation Intestinal Injury

Radiation-induced bowel injury is a common complication of radiation therapy for pelvic or abdominal cancers, with its occurrence increasing worldwide. Current treatments face significant challenges, and the limitations of conventional methods highlight the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies and drugs. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes show promising potential in treating inflammatory diseases. In this study, an acute radiation-induced intestinal injury model was created in rats after exposure to a 10 Gy X-ray dose, after administration of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hUC-MSC-exo) via tail vein injection. The results showed that these exosomes (exos) enhanced survival, aided in functional recovery, reduced inflammation, decreased enterocyte death, and helped regenerate the intestinal lining. Additionally, bioinformatic analyses of gene expression and gene ontology (GO) enrichment were performed. Molecular validation revealed a significant increase in pyroptosis-related factors in the intestinal tissues after irradiation, indicating that cellular pyroptosis is a key mechanism. In conclusion, HUC-MSC-exos help maintain intestinal integrity and promote cell growth, suggesting they could be an effective treatment for radiation-induced intestinal injury.