AUTHOR=Kumar Sanjay , Matthews Qiana L. , Sims Brian 

TITLE=Effects of Cocaine on Human Glial-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2020

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2020.563441

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2020.563441

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=Background: Microglia are important myeloid cells present in the brain parenchyma that serve a surveillance function in the central nervous system. Microglial cell activation results in neuroinflammation that, when prolonged, can disrupt immune homeostasis and neurogenesis. Activated microglia-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be involved in the propagation of inflammatory responses and modulation of cell-to-cell communication. However, a complete understanding of how EVs are regulated by drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, is still lacking. 
Findings: Cocaine exposure reduced human microglial cell (HMC3) viability, decreased expression of CD63 and dectin-1 in HMC3-derived EVs, and increased expression of the apoptotic marker histone H2A.x in HMC3-derived EVs.
Conclusion: Cocaine impacts HMC3 cells and EV protein expression, which could disrupt cellular signaling and cell-to-cell communication.