Effect of stem cell-derived exosome treatments on gene expression during corneal cell differentiation

To investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of stem cell-derived exosomes in dry eye disease (DED), we conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis in a murine model. C57BL/6 mice were divided into four experimental groups: (1) Control group (untreated healthy mice); (2) DED model group (induced dry eye disease without treatment); (3) Exosome eye drop group (DED mice treated with topical stem cell-derived exosome eye drops); and (4) Exosome intravenous group (DED mice treated with systemic exosome infusion). After the treatment period, corneal tissues were harvested from each group and subjected to RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to assess genome-wide gene expression changes. Our analysis revealed distinct transcriptional profiles across groups, highlighting key pathways modulated by exosome administration via both delivery routes. This study provides systematic insights into the molecular responses of corneal cells to exosome-based therapy and offers a basis for optimizing delivery strategies for ocular surface regeneration. Overall design: RNA-seq profiling of corneal tissue from DED model mice across four treatment groups: untreated control, disease model, exosome eye drop therapy, and exosome intravenous therapy, focusing on pathway-level alterations.

为探究干细胞来源外泌体（stem cell-derived exosomes）在干眼症（dry eye disease, DED）中的治疗机制，我们在小鼠模型中开展了对比转录组学分析。将C57BL/6小鼠分为4个实验组：(1) 对照组：未施加任何干预的健康小鼠；(2) 干眼症模型组：诱导构建干眼症模型后未接受治疗的小鼠；(3) 外泌体滴眼液组：经局部滴用干细胞来源外泌体滴眼液治疗的干眼症小鼠；(4) 静脉注射外泌体组：经全身外泌体输注治疗的干眼症小鼠。给药周期结束后，采集各组小鼠的角膜组织，进行RNA测序（RNA sequencing, RNA-seq）以评估全基因组基因表达变化。本研究的分析结果显示各组间具有显著差异的转录特征，明确了两种给药途径下外泌体调控的关键信号通路。本研究系统阐明了角膜细胞对外泌体疗法的分子应答机制，为优化眼表再生的给药策略提供了理论依据。整体实验设计：对4个处理组的干眼症模型小鼠角膜组织开展RNA测序分析，涵盖未处理对照组、疾病模型组、外泌体滴眼液治疗组及静脉注射外泌体治疗组，重点关注信号通路水平的表达改变。