• Inhaled MSC-EVs significantly ameliorate lung ischemia-reperfusion injury, showing superior efficacy compared to intravenous delivery.
• MSC-EVs promote macrophage polarization from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype.
• miR-22-3p within MSC-EVs directly targets NLRP3, suppressing the NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β pathway.
• Therapeutic efficacy of MSC-EVs is confirmed in a clinically relevant rat orthotopic lung transplantation model.