Phil Stephens

Scar formation during wound repair can be devastating for affected individuals. Our group previously documented the therapeutic potential of novel progenitor cell populations from the non-scarring buccal mucosa. These Oral Mucosa Lamina Propria-Progenitor Cells (OMLP-PCs) are multipotent, immunosuppressive, and antibacterial. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) may play important roles in stem cell–mediated repair in varied settings; hence, we investigated sEVs from this source for wound repair. We created an hTERT immortalized OMLP-PC line (OMLP-PCL) and confirmed retention of morphology, lineage plasticity, surface markers, and functional properties. sEVs isolated from OMLP-PCL were analyzed by nanoparticle tracking analysis, Cryo-EM and flow cytometry. Compared to bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC) sEVs, OMLP-PCL sEVs were more potent at driving wound healing functions, including cell proliferation and wound repopulation and downregulated myofibroblast formation. A reduced scarring potential was further demonstrated in a preclinical in vivo model. Manipulation of OMLP-PCL sEVs may provide novel options for non-scarring wound healing in clinical settings.