Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41878135›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of nanomedicine2026

Exosomal THBS4 Derived From Human Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes the Migration and Angiogenesis of the Endothelial Cells in Preeclampsia by Activating the Integrin α2/PI3K/AKT Axis.

Zejun Yang, Yu Liu, Jianjian Cui, Zhirui Chen, Haoran Shi, Hui Tao, Ruilin Ma, Wencong He, Lei Sun, Yanan Li and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of nanomedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Zejun Yang *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Yu Liu *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Jianjian Cui *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Zhirui ChenDepartment of Obstetrics, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Haoran ShiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Hui TaoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Ruilin MaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Wencong HeDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Lei SunDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Yanan LiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Ziyang LiuDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Zetong WangDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Yin ZhaoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific disease with limited treatment options. Although human placental mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) hold therapeutic potential, their clinical use faces safety and practical challenges. Placental mesenchymal stem cell exosomes (PMSC-Exos) offer a promising cell-free alternative. We hypothesized that PMSC-Exos may effectively alleviate PE and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: Exosomes derived from hPMSCs were isolated and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, Western blotting (WB), and nanoparticle flow cytometry. Proteomic profiling compared PMSC and exosome protein profiles. THBS4 expression was assessed in healthy and PE placental tissues using quantitative real-time PCR, WB, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The effects of PMSC-Exos on endothelial cells were examined by exosome uptake assay, transwell migration assay, tube formation assay, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. In a rat PE model, PMSC-Exos were administered via intraplacental injection. Therapeutic outcomes were assessed by measuring systolic blood pressure, urinary protein levels, and analyzing placental and renal tissues with Hematoxylin and Eosin staining, IHC, and WB. Results: We successfully isolated and characterized PMSC-Exos, which were enriched with THBS4 compared to PMSCs. THBS4 expression was downregulated in preeclamptic versus healthy placental tissues. In vitro experiments demonstrated that THBS4 contained in PMSC-Exos bound to integrin α2 (ITG α2) on endothelial cells, leading to the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and enhanced endothelial cell migration and angiogenic function. In vivo, administration of PMSC-Exos alleviated PE symptoms, improved placental structure, and supported fetal growth. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that PMSC-Exos promote vascular endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis through the THBS4/integrin α2/PI3K/AKT axis, leading to improved pregnancy outcomes in a rat model of PE. THBS4 may serve as a key therapeutic target for preeclampsia. This proof-of-concept study supports the therapeutic potential of PMSC-Exos, pending further translational research.

Indexed as

ExosomesMesenchymal Stem CellsPlacentaPre-EclampsiaThrombospondinsAnimalsCell MovementEndothelial CellsFemaleHumansIntegrin alpha2Phosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesPregnancyProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyIntegrin alpha2Phosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktthrombospondin 4Thrombospondinsendothelial cellsexosomesmesenchymal stem cellplacentapreeclampsiathrombosponding-4

Identifiers

PMID41878135
PMCPMC13007956

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.