Primary astrocytic mitochondrial transplantation ameliorates ischemic stroke

BMB Rep. 2023 Feb;56(2):90-95. doi: 10.5483/BMBRep.2022-0108.

Abstract

Mitochondria are important organelles that regulate adenosine triphosphate production, intracellular calcium buffering, cell survival, and apoptosis. They play therapeutic roles in injured cells via transcellular transfer through extracellular vesicles, gap junctions, and tunneling nanotubes. Astrocytes can secrete numerous factors known to promote neuronal survival, synaptic formation, and plasticity. Recent studies have demonstrated that astrocytes can transfer mitochondria to damaged neurons to enhance their viability and recovery. In this study, we observed that treatment with mitochondria isolated from rat primary astrocytes enhanced cell viability and ameliorated hydrogen peroxide-damaged neurons. Interestingly, isolated astrocytic mitochondria increased the number of cells under damaged neuronal conditions, but not under normal conditions, although the mitochondrial transfer efficiency did not differ between the two conditions. This effect was also observed after transplanting astrocytic mitochondria in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model. These findings suggest that mitochondria transfer therapy can be used to treat acute ischemic stroke and other diseases. [BMB Reports 2023; 56(2): 90-95].

Publication types

  • News

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • Ischemic Stroke* / metabolism
  • Mitochondria
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Stroke* / metabolism

Substances

  • Tunneling Nanotubes

Grants and funding

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Individual Basic Science and Engineering Research Program (2019R1A2C2005681) of the National Research Foundation funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT in Korea supported this work.