Proteomic Profiling of Exosomes Derived from Endometrial Stem Cells and Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Abstract

Endometrial stem cells (EnSCs) are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from endometrial tissue and serve as a valuable MSC source, as they are naturally replenished during menstruation. Exosomes, vesicles secreted by cells, contain various biomolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids and play crucial roles in intracellular communication, protein and nucleic acid metabolism, immune response regulation, and antigen presentation. This study investigated the protein profiles of EnSC-derived exosomes isolated from the endometrium of menstruating women and compared them with those of adipose-derived stem cell (ASC)-derived exosomes. After isolating EnSCs and ASCs, MSC characteristics were confirmed, and the purified exosomes were analyzed to determine their individual protein compositions. EnSCs, which can be obtained through non-invasive methods, exhibit multipotency similar to other MSCs and demonstrate rapid proliferation in vitro. Proteomic analysis of exosomal proteins revealed that 236 proteins were significantly more abundant in EnSC-derived exosomes than in ASC-derived exosomes, whereas 84 proteins were significantly more abundant in ASC-derived exosomes than in EnSC-derived exosomes. These findings indicate that EnSC-derived exosomes contain unique proteins compared to ASC-derived exosomes, as demonstrated through proteomic profiling. While further clinical studies are required, EnSCs hold promise as a potential therapeutic option in regenerative medicine, similar to current cell therapy products under development.