Exosomal KLF3-AS1 from hMSCs promoted cartilage repair and chondrocyte proliferation in osteoarthritis

The present study was designed to explore whether exosomal lncRNA-KLF3-AS1 derived from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) can serve as a positive treatment for osteoarthritis (OA). hMSCs and MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-exo) were prepared for morphological observation and identification by transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry. IL-1β-induced OA chondrocytes and collagenase-induced rat model of OA were established for the further experiments. Lentivirus-mediated siRNA targeting KLF3-AS1 was transfected into MSCs for silencing KLF3-AS1. The real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting analysis were performed to examine the mRNA and protein levels of type II collagen alpha 1 (Col2a1), aggrecan, matrix metalloproteinase 13 and runt-related transcription factor 2. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay. HE (hematoxylin and eosin) staining and immunohistochemistry were used for histopathological studies. MSC-exo ameliorated IL-1β-induced cartilage injury. Furthermore, lncRNA KLF3-AS1 was markedly enriched in MSC-exo, and exosomal KLF3-AS1 suppressed IL-1β-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes. Further in vivo investigation indicated that exosomal KLF3-AS1 promoted cartilage repair in a rat model of OA. Exosomal KLF3-AS1 promoted cartilage repair and chondrocyte proliferation in a rat model of OA, which might be an underlying therapeutic target for OA.