Anti-fibrotic effect of Spirulina maxima-derived extracellular vesicles: possible role of PARK7 and HSP70 chaperones
Publication Name: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Publication Date: 2026-03-31
Volume: 14
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Introduction – Spirulina maxima (Sm), a blue-green microalgae, is well known for its rich nutritional composition, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we found that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) isolated from Sm exhibit antifibrotic activity. Methods – Sm derived sEVs (Sm_sEV) were purified from the Sm culture medium using tangential flow filtration (TFF), followed by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Characterization of the sEVs was performed using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunogold TEM, surface-enhanced IR spectroscopy (SEIRS), and flow cytometry (FC). Internalization of DiI-labeled sEVs by human primary peritoneal mesothelial cells (P-MCs) and peritoneal fibroblasts (p-FBs) was examined using fluorescence microscopy. The effect of sEVs on mesenchymal transition of P-MCs and activation of P-FBs was investigated by immunofluorescent staining, MTT cell-proliferation, and Sirius Red collagen accumulation assays, respectively. The antifibrotic relevance of Sm_sEV was further investigated in a chlorhexidine digluconate (CG)-induced mouse model of peritoneal fibrosis. Results – The isolated Sm_sEV exhibited a spherical morphology, with a size range of 150.0 ± 67.6 nm, and the protein-to-lipid ratio (P/L_spectr) was 2.27 ± 0.07. The sEVs cargo contained Parkinson’s disease protein 7 (PARK7), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). DiI-labeled sEVs were successfully internalized by both P-MCs and P-FBs and inhibited TGF-β-induced mesenchymal transition in P-MCs and the collagen production and PDGF-B-induced proliferation in P-FBs. In vivo, intraperitoneal administration of Sm_sEVs reduced CG-induced submesothelial thickening, fibronectin, and collagen type I alpha 1 immunopositivity, and increased cytokeratin 18, immunopositivity in the mesothelial layer. Discussion – These findings highlight the antifibrotic effect of Sm_sEV and support their further investigation in the context of fibrosis.
Open Access: Yes
Authors - 18
Beáta Szebeni
11140100500
Tamás Visnovitz
23111918400
Domonkos Pap
35311833800
Marcell Pálmai
55305620800
Attila J. Szabó
55756552700
Apor Veres-Székely
56344334700
Zoltán Molnár
56470913500
Nóra Fekete
57193679621
Tamás Mészáros
57200158364
Péter Bokrossy
57215494319
Mária Bernáth
57219173315
Zoltán Varga
57220204003
Dorina Lenzinger
57299656700
Csenge Szász
57447510900
Ádám Vannay
6507823692
Judith Mihály
6602070413
Éva Pállinger
6701736301
Edit Buzás
7004693063