Extracellular Vesicle enriched miR-223-3p Modulates Host Inflammation in Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Endophthalmitis

Infectious endophthalmitis is a sight-threatening eye infection characterized by intense inflammation and irreversible retinal damage driven by the infiltrating immune cells. We identified extracellular vesicle (EV)-associated microRNAs, particularly miR-223-3p, as key regulators of this inflammatory response. Although miR-223-3p levels elevate during the infection, they may be insufficient to prevent immune-mediated tissue injury. Here, we enriched EVs with miR-223-3p and found that these modified EVs markedly suppressed inflammation and preserved retinal structure in infected retinal cells better than antibiotic treatment alone. Using mouse models and patient vitreous samples, our study reveals a novel therapeutic approach that harnesses miR-223-3p-enriched EVs to mitigate inflammation and protect against retinal damage, offering a promising strategy for managing antibiotic-resistant intraocular infections.