Apoptotic bodies derived from mesenchymal stem cells promote cutaneous wound healing via regulating the functions of macrophages

BACKGROUND: As the major interface between the body and the external environment, the skin is liable to various injuries. Skin injuries often lead to severe disability, and the exploration of promising therapeutic strategies is of great importance. Exogenous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy is a potential strategy due to the apparent therapeutic effects, while the underlying mechanism is still elusive. Interestingly, we observed the extensive apoptosis of exogenous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) in a short time after transplantation in mouse skin wound healing models. Considering the roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in intercellular communication, we hypothesized that the numerous apoptotic bodies (ABs) released during apoptosis may partially contribute to the therapeutic effects. METHODS: ABs derived from MSCs were extracted, characterized, and applied in mouse skin wound healing models, and the therapeutic effects were evaluated. Then, the target cells of ABs were explored, and the effects of ABs on macrophages were investigated in vitro. RESULTS: We found ABs derived from MSCs promoted cutaneous wound healing via triggering the polarization of macrophages towards M2 phenotype. In addition, the functional converted macrophages further enhanced the migration and proliferation abilities of fibroblasts, which together facilitated the wound healing process. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our study demonstrated that transplanted MSCs promoted cutaneous wound healing partially through releasing apoptotic bodies which could convert the macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype that plays a crucial role in the tissue repair process. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-020-02014-w.