Exosomes Derived from Bone Marrow Dendritic Cells Exhibit Protective and Therapeutic Potential Against Chemically Induced Chronic Pancreatitis in Rats

Abstract Background Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a specific clinical disorder that develops from pancreatic fibrosis and immune cell dysregulation. It has been proposed that bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs) exosomes have significant effects on immune regulation. Thus, the current study acquainted the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of exosomes derived from BMDCs on a rat model of CP. Materials and methods BMDCs were prepared and identified, and then the exosomes were isolated by differential ultracentrifugation. Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of exosomes were investigated on L-arginine induced CP model. Results Administration of two tail vein injections of exosomes (200 μg/kg/dose suspended in 0.2 ml PBS) markedly improved the pancreatic function and histology compared to CP group. Moreover, exosomes prominently mitigated the increase in amylase, lipase, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and elevated antioxidant enzymes; catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Conclusion BMDCs exosomes can be considered as a promising candidate, with a high efficacy and stability compared with its parent cell, for management of CP and similar inflammatory diseases.