Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Attenuate Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Under Inflammatory Stress in an In Vitro 3D Culture System.

This study explores the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from Wharton's Jelly mesenchymal stem cells in an in vitro 3D model of intervertebral disc degeneration under inflammatory stress. The treatment with WJ-MSC-EVs enhanced nucleus pulposus cell proliferation, viability, and extracellular matrix synthesis while reducing oxidative stress and catabolic gene expression. These results support the promise of WJ-MSC-EVs as a novel, cell-free strategy for disc regeneration in inflammatory conditions.