Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Modulate Chemoradiotherapy Response in Cervical Cancer Spheroids

<b>Background:</b> Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are significant in chemo- and radiotherapy resistance. Previous research has focused on BM-MSCs, demonstrating their functional involvement in cancer progression as mediators in the tumor microenvironment. They play multiple...

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Main Authors: Kesara Nittayaboon, Piyatida Molika, Rassanee Bissanum, Kittinun Leetanaporn, Nipha Chumsuwan, Raphatphorn Navakanitworakul
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1050
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author Kesara Nittayaboon
Piyatida Molika
Rassanee Bissanum
Kittinun Leetanaporn
Nipha Chumsuwan
Raphatphorn Navakanitworakul
author_facet Kesara Nittayaboon
Piyatida Molika
Rassanee Bissanum
Kittinun Leetanaporn
Nipha Chumsuwan
Raphatphorn Navakanitworakul
author_sort Kesara Nittayaboon
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are significant in chemo- and radiotherapy resistance. Previous research has focused on BM-MSCs, demonstrating their functional involvement in cancer progression as mediators in the tumor microenvironment. They play multiple roles in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. BM-MSC-derived exosomes (BM-MSCs-exo) are small vesicles, typically 50–300 nm in diameter, isolated from BM-MSCs. Some studies have demonstrated the tumor-suppressive effects of BM-MSCs-exo. <b>Objective:</b> This study aimed to investigate their role in modulating the impact of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in different types of cervical cancer spheroid cells. <b>Methods:</b> The spheroids after treatment were subject to size measurement, cell viability, and caspase activity. Then, the molecular mechanism was elucidated by Western blot analysis. <b>Results:</b> We observed a reduction in spheroid size and an increase in cell death in HeLa spheroids, while no significant changes in size or cell viability were found in SiHa spheroids. At the molecular level, CRT treatment combined with BM-MSCs-exo in HeLa spheroids induced apoptosis through the activation of the NF-κB pathway, specifically via the NF-κB1 (P50) transcription factor, leading to the upregulation of apoptosis-related molecules. In contrast, CRT combined with BM-MSCs-exo in SiHa spheroids exhibited an opposing effect: although cellular viability decreased, caspase activity also decreased, which correlated with increased HSP27 expression and the subsequent downregulation of apoptotic molecules. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our study provides deeper insight into the potential of BM-MSCs-exo in cervical cancer treatment, supporting the development of more effective and safer therapeutic strategies for clinical application.
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spelling doaj-art-10f7599e9b7c4d0aa7f687d8933739712025-08-20T03:07:58ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-07-01187105010.3390/ph18071050Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Modulate Chemoradiotherapy Response in Cervical Cancer SpheroidsKesara Nittayaboon0Piyatida Molika1Rassanee Bissanum2Kittinun Leetanaporn3Nipha Chumsuwan4Raphatphorn Navakanitworakul5Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, ThailandDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, ThailandDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, ThailandDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, ThailandDepartment of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, ThailandDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai 90110, Thailand<b>Background:</b> Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are significant in chemo- and radiotherapy resistance. Previous research has focused on BM-MSCs, demonstrating their functional involvement in cancer progression as mediators in the tumor microenvironment. They play multiple roles in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. BM-MSC-derived exosomes (BM-MSCs-exo) are small vesicles, typically 50–300 nm in diameter, isolated from BM-MSCs. Some studies have demonstrated the tumor-suppressive effects of BM-MSCs-exo. <b>Objective:</b> This study aimed to investigate their role in modulating the impact of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in different types of cervical cancer spheroid cells. <b>Methods:</b> The spheroids after treatment were subject to size measurement, cell viability, and caspase activity. Then, the molecular mechanism was elucidated by Western blot analysis. <b>Results:</b> We observed a reduction in spheroid size and an increase in cell death in HeLa spheroids, while no significant changes in size or cell viability were found in SiHa spheroids. At the molecular level, CRT treatment combined with BM-MSCs-exo in HeLa spheroids induced apoptosis through the activation of the NF-κB pathway, specifically via the NF-κB1 (P50) transcription factor, leading to the upregulation of apoptosis-related molecules. In contrast, CRT combined with BM-MSCs-exo in SiHa spheroids exhibited an opposing effect: although cellular viability decreased, caspase activity also decreased, which correlated with increased HSP27 expression and the subsequent downregulation of apoptotic molecules. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our study provides deeper insight into the potential of BM-MSCs-exo in cervical cancer treatment, supporting the development of more effective and safer therapeutic strategies for clinical application.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1050bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs)exosomescervical cancercancer therapychemo- and radiotherapy resistance
spellingShingle Kesara Nittayaboon
Piyatida Molika
Rassanee Bissanum
Kittinun Leetanaporn
Nipha Chumsuwan
Raphatphorn Navakanitworakul
Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Modulate Chemoradiotherapy Response in Cervical Cancer Spheroids
Pharmaceuticals
bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs)
exosomes
cervical cancer
cancer therapy
chemo- and radiotherapy resistance
title Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Modulate Chemoradiotherapy Response in Cervical Cancer Spheroids
title_full Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Modulate Chemoradiotherapy Response in Cervical Cancer Spheroids
title_fullStr Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Modulate Chemoradiotherapy Response in Cervical Cancer Spheroids
title_full_unstemmed Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Modulate Chemoradiotherapy Response in Cervical Cancer Spheroids
title_short Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Modulate Chemoradiotherapy Response in Cervical Cancer Spheroids
title_sort bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell derived exosomes modulate chemoradiotherapy response in cervical cancer spheroids
topic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs)
exosomes
cervical cancer
cancer therapy
chemo- and radiotherapy resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/1050
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AT rassaneebissanum bonemarrowmesenchymalstemcellderivedexosomesmodulatechemoradiotherapyresponseincervicalcancerspheroids
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