Chondroprotective functions of neutrophil-derived extracellular vesicles via promoting the production of secreted frizzled related protein 5 in cartilage [SFRP5]

Neutrophil extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to play a protective role in arthritic joints by suppressing inflammation and cartilage degeneration. In the current study, we investigated the functional characteristics of EVs derived from stimulated neutrophils and their protective effects in cartilage repair in vitro. We first optimized the stimulation conditions of neutrophils that led to production of EVs with chondroprotective function. To understand this protective mechanism, EVs from TGF-β-stimulated neutrophils were added to stimulated chondrocytes with IL-1β, and their responses were examined by bulk-RNA analysis. RNA-seq for mice chondrocytes stimulated by IL-1β and SFRP5 recombinant