Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Loaded with Selenium or Nano Selenium as a Novel Therapeutic Paradigm for Streptozotocin-Induced Type 1 Diabetes in Rats

Simple Summary Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin insufficiency as a consequence of the pancreatic beta-cells' auto-immune attack. A potential novel remedy, counting on using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes loaded with an antioxidant known for its insulin-mimetic effect like selenium could be useful to address this condition and its related complications. The results indicated a hypoglycemic and antiapoptotic superiority for nano selenium-loaded exosomes rather than elemental selenium.Abstract Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin insufficiency as a consequence of the pancreatic beta-cells' auto-immune attack. Nowadays, the application of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSCs-Exs) as the main cell-free therapy for diabetes treatment is becoming more and more extensive. In non-autologous therapy, researchers are moving towards a new strategy based on loading MSC-Exs with certain drugs, aimed at maintaining and maximizing the function of exosomes at the function site and enhancing their efficiency and safety. This study aims to explore and compare the therapeutic potentialities of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSCs-Exs) loaded with either selenium (Se) or nano selenium (NSe), a natural antioxidant micronutrient, in the management of T1DM in rats. In our 4-week experiment, six rat groups were included, namely, control, Ex+Se, Ex+NSe, STZ-diabetic (D), D+ Ex+Se, and D+Ex+NSe groups. Both diabetic-treated groups showed marked pancreatic regenerative antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic capacities, with the D+Ex+NSe injection showing superiority in managing diabetes hazards, as evidenced by various biochemical and histological assessments.