Cell reprogramming using extracellular vesicles from differentiating stem cells into white/beige adipocytes

Stem cell–derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer alternative approaches to stem cell–based therapy for regenerative medicine. In this study, stem cell EVs derived during differentiation are developed to use as cell-free therapeutic systems by inducing tissue-specific differentiation. EVs are isolated from human adipose-derived stem cells (HASCs) during white and beige adipogenic differentiation (D-EV and BD-EV, respectively) via tangential flow filtration. D-EV and BD-EV can successfully differentiate HASCs into white and beige adipocytes, respectively. D-EV are transplanted with collagen/methylcellulose hydrogels on the backs of BALB/c mice, and they produce numerous lipid droplets in injected sites. Treatments of BD-EV attenuate diet-induced obesity through browning of adipose tissue in mice. Furthermore, high-fat diet–induced hepatic steatosis and glucose tolerance are improved by BD-EV treatment. miRNAs are responsible for the observed effects of BD-EV. These results reveal that secreted EVs during stem cell differentiation into white adipocytes or beige adipocytes can promote cell reprogramming.