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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Neuropharmacology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1365928

Exosomes derived from HUVECs alleviate ischemia-reperfusion induced inflammation in neural cells by upregulating KLF14 expression

Provisionally accepted
Jianxin Qin Jianxin Qin 1Lihong Zhou Lihong Zhou 1Lei Yu Lei Yu 2Jingwen Ye Jingwen Ye 1Feng Wang Feng Wang 3Jin Zhou Jin Zhou 3Yunjuan Gu Yunjuan Gu 1Gang Chen Gang Chen 1Xia Chen Xia Chen 1*
  • 1 Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
  • 2 Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
  • 3 Nantong Xingzhong Cell Engineering Co. LTD, Nantong, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Neuroinflammation plays a key role in the progression of secondary brain injury after ischemic stroke, and exosomes have been increasingly recognized to eliminate inflammatory responses through various mechanisms. This study aimed to explore the effect and possible mechanism of human umbilical vein endothelial cells derived exosomes (H-EXOs) on neuroinflammation. We established a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (tMCAO/R) in male rats and oxygen-glucose-deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model in cultured neurons to mimic secondary brain injury after ischemic stroke in vivo. H-EXOs were administered at the same time of reperfusion. Results showed that the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and the transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 14 (KLF14) were significantly increased both in rat brain tissue and cultured neural cells after ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury. H-EXOs treatment significantly improved the cultured cell viability, reduced infarct sizes, mitigated neurobehavioral defects, and alleviated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines compared with the control group, indicating that H-EXOs exerted anti-inflammatory effect against I/R injury. Further studies revealed that the anti-inflammatory effect of H-EXOs could be weakened by small-interfering RNA (siKLF4) transfection. KLF14 was a protective factor produced during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. In conclusion, H-EXOs protect neurons from inflammation after I/R injury by enhancing KLF14 expression.

    Keywords: HUVEC, Exosomes, Brain ischemic, KLF14, Inflammation

    Received: 05 Jan 2024; Accepted: 16 Apr 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Qin, Zhou, Yu, Ye, Wang, Zhou, Gu, Chen and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Xia Chen, Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, Jiangsu Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.