Background: Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles [MSC-sEVs] have potentials that can be utilized for mitigating the adverse effects associated with diabetes mellitus [DM].
The aim of the work: To test the effects of MSC-sEVs on pancreas with DM.
Patients and Methods: The study was carried out on forty adult male albino rats at Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University. The rats were randomly allocated into four equal groups [10 rats each]: Group I: control. Group II: Rats received IP alloxan [80 mg / kg bodyweight] twice [one week apart] to induce DM. Group III: After induction of DM, rats received 200 mg/ml IV culture media [1 ml / rat]. Group IV: After DM induction rats received 200 mg/ml MSC-sEVs IV three times [once per week]. Rats were sacrificed and pancreatic sections from all groups were subjected to hematoxylin & eosin and immunohistochemical stains with tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α] and Bax.
Results: The obtained results showed that the diabetic rats had marked decrease in number and atrophy of islets, congested blood vessels, interstitial haemorrhage, and perivascular inflammatory cellular infiltrate. MSC-sEVs treated group showed marked restoration of normal pancreatic architecture in the form of normal islets of Langerhans with unremarkable cell vacuolation surrounded by normal pancreatic acini in addition to marked reduction of vascular congestion and interstitial haemorrhage. In diabetic group immunostained sections for BAX and TNF-α showed high BAX and TNF-α expression in islet cells and acinar cells. MSC-sEVs -treated group showed lower BAX and TNF-α immunoreactivity.
Conclusion:  Bone marrow-MSCs can be considered as treatment modality for DM.