Effect of stem cell-derived exosome treatments on gene expression during corneal cell differentiation

To investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of stem cell-derived exosomes in dry eye disease (DED), we conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis in a murine model. C57BL/6 mice were divided into four experimental groups: (1) Control group (untreated healthy mice); (2) DED model group (induced dry eye disease without treatment); (3) Exosome eye drop group (DED mice treated with topical stem cell-derived exosome eye drops); and (4) Exosome intravenous group (DED mice treated with systemic exosome infusion). After the treatment period, corneal tissues were harvested from each group and subjected to RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to assess genome-wide gene expression changes. Our analysis revealed distinct transcriptional profiles across groups, highlighting key pathways modulated by exosome administration via both delivery routes. This study provides systematic insights into the molecular responses of corneal cells to exosome-based therapy and offers a basis for optimizing delivery strategies for ocular surface regeneration.