We previously showed that treatment with endothelial progenitor cells, which highly express microRNA-126 (miR-126), improved survival in mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) sepsis. miRNAs are important regulators of gene expression and cell function, play a major role in endothelial homeostasis, and may represent an emerging therapeutic modality.
We previously found that endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) exosomes prevent endothelial dysfunction and lung injury in sepsis in part due to their encapsulation of miRNA-126.