Platelet-rich plasma-derived exosomes promote blood-spinal cord barrier repair and attenuate neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury

Abstract

Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) compromises the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) and induces neuroinflammation, potentially exacerbating neuronal damage. This underscores the importance of maintaining BSCB integrity and mitigating neuroinflammation in SCI treatment. Our study explores an innovative approach to treating SCI by utilizing platelet-rich plasma-derived exosomes (PRP-Exos) to stabilize BSCB function and alleviate neuroinflammation. We successfully isolated exosomes from platelet-rich plasma and conducted both in vivo and in vitro experiments to assess the therapeutic effects of PRP-Exos and explore their potential mechanisms in stabilizing the BSCB, reducing neuroinflammation, and promoting neural functional recovery.In vitro results demonstrate that PRP-Exos significantly reduce the permeability of bEnd.3 cells under hypoxic-hypoglycemic conditions, thereby restoring the integrity of tight junctions. Additionally, our study elucidates the critical role of the NF-κB signaling pathway in the amelioration of neuroinflammation by PRP-Exos. In the SCI model, local injection of hydrogel-encapsulated PRP-Exos reduced Evans blue dye leakage, enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins, alleviated the inflammatory environment in the damaged area, and improved neural functional recovery. In conclusion, PRP-Exos presents a promising and effective treatment option for SCI.

Keywords

• Platelet-rich plasma(PRP)
• Spinal cord injury
• Exosomes
• Blood-spinal cord barrier
• Neuroinflammation