ObjectiveTo observe the expressions of miR-183 and retinal dehydrogenase 11 (RDH11) in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC), and to preliminarily explore their targeting relationship and their effects on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. MethodsBMSC from C57BL/6 (C57) mice were isolated and cultured, and BMSC-derived exosomes were identified. BMSC were divided into blank group, simulation blank control group (mimic-NC group), miR-183 simulation group (miR-183-mimic group). C57 mice and retinal degeneration 10 (rd10) mouse RPE cells were cultured with reference to literature methods. RPE cells from rd10 mice were transfected with BMSC exosomes and co-cultured and divided into control group, exosome group, mimic-NC-exosome group (mimic-NC-exo group), miR-183-mimic-exosome group (miR-183-mimic-exo group). The relative expression levels of miR-183, RDH11 mRNA and protein in C57 mice, rd10 mice and RPE cells in each group were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The targeting relationship between miR-183 and RDH11 was analyzed by bioinformatics website and dual luciferase reporter. Cell counting kit 8 was used to detect the effect of miR-183 on BMSC exosomes on RPE cell proliferation; in situ labeling end labeling method was used to detect RPE cells apoptosis. One-way ANOVA was used to compare multiple groups. ResultsCompared with C57 mouse RPE cells, the relative expression of miR-183 in rd10 mouse RPE cells was down-regulated, and the relative expression of RDH11 mRNA was up-regulated, and the differences were statistically significant (t=5.230, 8.548; P=0.006, 0.001). Compared with the blank group and the mimic-NC group, the relative expression of miR-183 mRNA in the exosomes of the miR-183-mimics group was significantly increased (F=60.130, P＜0.05). After 24 h of co-culture, exosomes entered RPE cells. Compared with the mimic-NC-exo group, the relative expression of miR-183 mRNA in RPE cells in the miR-183-mimic-exo group was significantly increased, the proliferation ability was enhanced (t=7.311, P=0.002), and the number of apoptotic cells was decreased (F=10.949, P=0.012), and the differences were statistically significant (t=4.571, P=0.002). Bioinformatics website and dual-luciferase report confirmed that miR-183 has a targeting relationship with RDH11. Compared with the mimic-NC group, the relative expression of RDH11 mRNA and protein in the exosomes of the miR-183-mimic group was decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.361, 6.591; P=0.006, 0.003). After co-culture, compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in the relative expression of RDH11 mRNA and protein in RPE cells in the exosome group (t=0.169, 1.134; P=0.874, 0.320); The relative expressions of RDH11 mRNA and protein in RPE cells in -183-mimic-exo group were decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.554, 5.546; P=0.005, 0.005). ConclusionUp-regulation of BMSC-derived exosomal miR-183 promote the proliferation of RPE cells in vitro by targeting the expression of RDH11 and reduce the number of apoptosis.