SOX11 Downregulation and IL-7/IL22RA2 Upregulation Might be a Potential Mechanism of Exosome in Promoting Schwann Cell Proliferation

The characterization process was performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and Western blot. SCs were co-cultured with menstrual blood-derived MenSCs-Exos to assess their proliferation through CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. RNA-Seq was utilized to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) linked to SC proliferation. DEGs were subjected to GSEA and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Several DEGs were validated by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Results: MenSCs exhibited osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential, and MenSCs-Exos demonstrated typical exosomal characteristics. These exosomes were efficiently internalized by SCs, promoting their proliferation and cell cycle progression. RNA-Seq identified 113 DEGs (60 upregulated and 53 downregulated genes) in the MenSCs-Exos-treated SCs. Compared to the MenSCs-conditioned medium group, 18 specific DEGs were further identified and found to be enriched in pathways related to cytokine signaling, mitochondrial function, and autophagy. qRT-PCR and Western blot showed notably upregulated IL22RA2 and IL-7 expression and a reduction in SOX11 level.