Exosomes Derived from Induced and Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Senescence-like Features and Migration in Cancer Cells

Abstract

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-Exos) play a key role in tissue repair, immune regulation, and cancer biology. Due to limitations in MSC expansion and source variability, interest has shifted to induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs (iMSCs) as a promising alternative. This study compares effects of exosomes derived from iMSCs (iMSC-Exos) and Wharton’s jelly MSCs (WJMSC-Exos) on MCF7 and A549 cancer cells. Both types of exosomes reduced MCF7 proliferation and induced a senescence-like state, rather than apoptosis, although the antiproliferative effect was transient in A549 cells. Notably, WJMSC-Exos promoted migration in both MCF7 and A549, whereas iMSC-Exos did not exhibit this effect. Overall, WJMSC-Exos had a more robust impact on cancer cell proliferation and migration. These findings highlight the diverse effects of exosomes on cancer and the development of a senescence-like state as an important response to Exos exposure. Moreover, these findings invite for more careful evaluation of the therapeutic role of iMSC-derived Exos.

Keywords: Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs), cell-free therapy, exosomes, induced mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs), senescence, cancer