Mesenchymal Stem Cells Extracellular Vesicles Loaded with Therapeutic Proteins for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

PD is known to be associated with brain inflammation, microglia activation and secretory neurotoxic activities, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), which lead to oxidative stress and neurodegeneration.

Catalase is one of the most potent antioxidants in nature, albeit the BBB severely limits transport of this large protein. Previous publications have shown that monocytes and macrophages EVs loaded with catalase19, or HEK-293T engineered EVs loaded with catalase mRNA20 were detected in PD mouse brain following administration and provide significant neuroprotective effects. 

We propose a new treatment for PD based on MSC-Evs loaded with catalase. We will study the possible synergistic effect of EVs and catalase in a mouse model of PD (6-OHDA).