The Neuroprotective Effects of Exosomes Derived from TSG101-Overexpressing Human Neural Stem Cells in a Stroke Model

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Aug 23;23(17):9532. doi: 10.3390/ijms23179532.

Abstract

Although tissue-type plasminogen activator was approved by the FDA for early reperfusion of occluded vessels, there is a need for an effective neuroprotective drug for stroke patients. In this study, we established tumor susceptibility gene (TSG)101-overexpressing human neural stem cells (F3.TSG) and investigated whether they showed enhanced secretion of exosomes and whether treatment with exosomes during reperfusion alleviated ischemia-reperfusion-mediated brain damage. F3.TSG cells secreted higher amounts of exosomes than the parental F3 cells. In N2A cells subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), treatment with exosomes or coculture with F3.TSG cells significantly attenuated lactate dehydrogenase release, the mRNA expression of proinflammatory factors, and the protein expression of DNA-damage-related proteins. In a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model, treatment with exosomes, F3 cells, or F3.TSG cells after 2 h of occlusion followed by reperfusion reduced the infarction volume and suppressed inflammatory cytokines, DNA-damage-related proteins, and glial fibrillary acidic protein, and upregulated several neurotrophic factors. Thus, TSG101-overexpressing neural stem cells showed enhanced exosome secretion; exosome treatment protected against MCAO-induced brain damage via anti-inflammatory activities, DNA damage pathway inhibition, and growth/trophic factor induction. Therefore, exosomes and F3.TSG cells can affect neuroprotection and functional recovery in acute stroke patients.

Keywords: MCAO; TSG101; exosome; neural stem cells; neuroprotection.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Ischemia* / metabolism
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Exosomes* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / metabolism
  • Neural Stem Cells* / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Reperfusion Injury* / metabolism
  • Stroke* / drug therapy
  • Stroke* / therapy

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • DNA