Zhang W, Luo JL, Xiao L, Zhang JG. Letter to the Editor: Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles as a promising therapeutic candidate for attenuating cellular senescence. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(6): 114501 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.114501]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jian-Guang Zhang, PhD, Xiamen Institute for Food and Drug Quality Control, No. 33 Dongdu Haishan Road, Huli District, Xiamen 361012, Fujian Province, China. jianguangcn@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Cell Biology
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letter
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Zhang W, Luo JL, Xiao L, Zhang JG. Letter to the Editor: Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles as a promising therapeutic candidate for attenuating cellular senescence. World J Stem Cells 2026; 18(6): 114501 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.114501]
Li Xiao, Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Research Institute (Guangdong Provincial Laboratory Animals Monitoring Center), Guangzhou 510663, Guangdong Province, China
Jian-Guang Zhang, Xiamen Institute for Food and Drug Quality Control, Xiamen 361012, Fujian Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Li Xiao and Jian-Guang Zhang.
Author contributions: Xiao L and Zhang JG contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-corresponding authors. Xiao L and Zhang JG contributed to the writing, reviewing and editing; Zhang W, Luo JL, Xiao L, and Zhang JG contributed to the conceptualization of this manuscript; Zhang W and Luo JL participated in the writing of the original draft. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Jian-Guang Zhang, PhD, Xiamen Institute for Food and Drug Quality Control, No. 33 Dongdu Haishan Road, Huli District, Xiamen 361012, Fujian Province, China. jianguangcn@163.com
Received: September 22, 2025 Revised: November 6, 2025 Accepted: January 4, 2026 Published online: June 26, 2026 Processing time: 276 Days and 21.3 Hours
Abstract
Cellular senescence, characterized by an irreversible growth arrest, plays a pivotal role in aging and age-related pathologies. The study published in the World Journal of Stem Cells by Yang et al investigated the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) in mitigating cellular senescence, providing comprehensive evidence from both in vitro and in vivo experiments. A clinical-grade production process for MSC-EVs was established, along with defined release criteria for human application. Functional assays revealed that MSC-EVs significantly reduced senescence-associated markers, including β-galactosidase, matrix metallopeptidase 1, P21, and interleukin-1β, while enhancing collagen I expression in aged human dermal fibroblasts. In a D-gal-induced aging mouse model, MSC-EVs ameliorated histopathological alterations, oxidative stress, and aging-related gene expression. Collectively, these findings underscore MSC-EVs as a promising anti-aging therapeutic strategy. Future research should focus on identifying the critical quality attributes of anti-senescent MSC-EVs and validating their efficacy in large animal models and clinical trials.
Core Tip: This study by Yang et al provided evidence that clinically produced mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles effectively counteract cellular senescence. They reduce senescence markers and restore collagen expression in aged human dermal fibroblasts, while mitigating oxidative stress and aging-related gene expression in a D-gal-induced aging mouse model. These results highlight the potential of mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles as a ready-to-use biologic strategy against aging and aging-associated tissue damage, paving the way for their further clinical development.
