Human nasal olfactory stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles improve the repair of rat nerves

Damage to the peripheral nerve impairs quality of life. Despite the advances in surgery to facilitate nerve regeneration, complete recovery remains elusive. Human olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells (OEMSC) have potential for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury through the release of extracellular vesicles (EV). The current research investigates the therapeutic effects of a venous bridge, filled with freshly purified or cryoconserved OEMSC-derived EVs after a peroneal nerve loss of substance. Injured peroneal nerve was bridged with a vein into which freshly purified or cryoconserved EVs were injected or not. Nerve repair was analyzed by measuring locomotor function, muscle mechanical properties, muscle mass, axon number, and myelination. The EVs significantly increased locomotor recovery, maintained the contractile phenotype of the target muscle, and augmented the number of growing axons. These results demonstrate that EVs display a positive effect on peripheral nerve regeneration, representing an alternative to cellular therapies for peripheral nerve repair.