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Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Young Neural Cultures Attenuate Astrocytic Reactivity In Vitro
Daniel Almansa1, Héctor Peinado2, Raquel García-Rodríguez1
1Molecular Neuropathology Unit, Physiological and Pathological Processes Program, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC/UAM, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 15, 2022
Summary
Small extracellular vesicles (EVs) from younger neural cultures reduced astrocyte reactivity. EVs from older cultures did not show these beneficial effects, suggesting aging impacts EV function in the central nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial for intercellular communication in the central nervous system (CNS).
- Neural EVs modulate astrocyte proliferation, microglial activation, neuronal protection, and regeneration.
- The impact of aging on neural EV biological functions remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biological effects of small EVs (sEVs) from neural cells cultured in vitro for different durations.
- To determine if aging in vitro affects the functional properties of neural sEVs.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of small EVs (sEVs) from neural cell cultures at 14 and 21 days in vitro (DIV).
- Assessment of sEV effects on extracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.
- Analysis of GFAP expression and astrocyte architecture complexity.
Main Results:
- EVs from 14 DIV cultures significantly reduced extracellular LDH levels.
- EVs from 14 DIV cultures decreased GFAP expression and astrocyte architectural complexity, indicating reduced astrocyte reactivity.
- EVs from 21 DIV cultures did not exhibit these effects.
Conclusions:
- Neural sEVs derived from earlier in vitro culture (14 DIV) possess properties that reduce astrocyte reactivity.
- Aging in vitro (21 DIV) alters the biological functions of neural sEVs.
- These findings provide a foundation for in vivo studies on aging and neural EV function.
