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World J Stem Cells. Jul 26, 2026; 18(7): 118557
Published online Jul 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.118557
Published online Jul 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.118557
miR-140-3p in exosomes derived from bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells inhibits pyrotoisosis by targeting PTEN under high-glucose condition
Yue Wu, Hui Cai, The First Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Yue Wu, Department of Burn, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Wen-Hui Yin, Department of Medicine, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Hong-Jing Wang, Department of Education, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Hui Cai, NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor/Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Precision Medicine for Surgical Oncology, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Hui Cai, Gansu Isotope Laboratory, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Author contributions: Wu Y initiated the study, organized and edited this paper after compiling it to refine it; Wu Y, Yin WH, and Wang HJ planning the experiments and carrying out postoperative observation together as well as filling in relevant forms; Cai H initiated the study supervision, financial support and manuscript review; and all authors read and approved our work hereafter.
AI contribution statement: No AI tools were used in the writing or preparation of this manuscript. All content, analysis, and writing were performed solely by the authors.
Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province, No. 22JR5RA692; Lanzhou Youth Scientific and Technological Talent Innovation Project, No. 2024-QN-38; Backbone and Young Talent Project for Provincial Health Commission, No. GSWSQN2025-20; National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82360498; Gansu Joint Scientific Research Fund Major Project, No. 23JRRA1537; the Central-Guided Local Science and Technology Development Found, No. 25ZYJA003; Alpha Isotope Mass Production Technology and Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals Research, No. GSTWS250108; and Gansu Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for Burn and Wound Repair, No. 21JR7RA674.
Institutional review board statement: This study did not involve any patients and animals.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.
Corresponding author: Hui Cai, The First Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, No. 222 Tianshui South Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
Received: February 3, 2026
Revised: March 18, 2026
Accepted: May 27, 2026
Published online: July 26, 2026
Processing time: 169 Days and 7.4 Hours
Revised: March 18, 2026
Accepted: May 27, 2026
Published online: July 26, 2026
Processing time: 169 Days and 7.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Specifically, extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells contain miR-140-3p that inhibits pyroptosis in rat dermal fibroblasts caused by hyperglycaemic stimulation through direct inhibition of phosphatase and tensin homolog. By blocking the NLRP3/caspase-1/gasdermine-D-N-terminal-dependent pyroptosis pathway to promote fibroblast proliferation and migration. The miR-140-3p/phosphatase and tensin homolog axis has provided an attractive strategy to treat diabetic foot ulcers.