Accepted: 18 March 2024 | Zhiqing Huang, Yuzhi Zhuang, Wenwen Li, Mingchen Ma, Fangcao Lei, Yan Qu, Jiaqi Li, Huigen Luo, Changzheng Li, Lu Lu, Lan Ma, Xiao Zhang, Xiaoxing Kou, Linjia Jiang, Xueli Mao, Songtao Shi
This study investigates the role of apoptotic vesicles (apoVs) in DNA repair and cellular senescence. The authors found that apoptosis-deficient mice (both *Fas*^mut^ and *Bim*^−/−^) exhibited elevated DNA damage and premature cellular senescence, along with a significant reduction in the number of 16,000 g apoVs. Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived 16,000 g apoVs rescued these phenotypes. Additionally, sublethal radiation exposure caused more severe DNA damage and reduced survival in *Fas*^mut^ mice compared to wild-type mice, which was also mitigated by MSC-apoV infusion. Mechanistically, the study demonstrated that apoptosis assembles multiple nuclear DNA repair enzymes, such as full-length PARP1, into 16,000 g apoVs, which are then transferred to recipient cells, leading to DNA repair and senescent cell elimination. Furthermore, embryonic stem cell-derived 16,000 g apoVs showed superior DNA repair capacity due to their higher levels of nuclear DNA repair enzymes. This study reveals a novel role for 16,000 g apoVs in safeguarding tissues from DNA damage and suggests a therapeutic strategy using stem cell-derived apoVs to ameliorate irradiation-induced DNA damage.This study investigates the role of apoptotic vesicles (apoVs) in DNA repair and cellular senescence. The authors found that apoptosis-deficient mice (both *Fas*^mut^ and *Bim*^−/−^) exhibited elevated DNA damage and premature cellular senescence, along with a significant reduction in the number of 16,000 g apoVs. Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-derived 16,000 g apoVs rescued these phenotypes. Additionally, sublethal radiation exposure caused more severe DNA damage and reduced survival in *Fas*^mut^ mice compared to wild-type mice, which was also mitigated by MSC-apoV infusion. Mechanistically, the study demonstrated that apoptosis assembles multiple nuclear DNA repair enzymes, such as full-length PARP1, into 16,000 g apoVs, which are then transferred to recipient cells, leading to DNA repair and senescent cell elimination. Furthermore, embryonic stem cell-derived 16,000 g apoVs showed superior DNA repair capacity due to their higher levels of nuclear DNA repair enzymes. This study reveals a novel role for 16,000 g apoVs in safeguarding tissues from DNA damage and suggests a therapeutic strategy using stem cell-derived apoVs to ameliorate irradiation-induced DNA damage.