Frontiers in Neurology (Nov 2019)

Extracellular Vesicles Can Deliver Anti-inflammatory and Anti-scarring Activities of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells After Spinal Cord Injury

  • Pasquale Romanelli,
  • Pasquale Romanelli,
  • Lara Bieler,
  • Lara Bieler,
  • Cornelia Scharler,
  • Cornelia Scharler,
  • Karin Pachler,
  • Karin Pachler,
  • Christina Kreutzer,
  • Christina Kreutzer,
  • Pia Zaunmair,
  • Pia Zaunmair,
  • Dominika Jakubecova,
  • Dominika Jakubecova,
  • Heike Mrowetz,
  • Heike Mrowetz,
  • Bruno Benedetti,
  • Bruno Benedetti,
  • Francisco J. Rivera,
  • Francisco J. Rivera,
  • Francisco J. Rivera,
  • Francisco J. Rivera,
  • Ludwig Aigner,
  • Ludwig Aigner,
  • Ludwig Aigner,
  • Eva Rohde,
  • Eva Rohde,
  • Eva Rohde,
  • Mario Gimona,
  • Mario Gimona,
  • Dirk Strunk,
  • Dirk Strunk,
  • Sebastien Couillard-Despres,
  • Sebastien Couillard-Despres,
  • Sebastien Couillard-Despres

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.01225
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

Read online

Spinal cord injury is characterized by initial neural tissue disruption that triggers secondary damage and extensive non-resolving inflammation, which aggravates loss of function and hinders recovery. The early onset of inflammation following traumatic spinal cord injury underscores the importance of acute intervention after the initial trauma. Injections of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can reduce inflammation following spinal cord injury. We asked if extracellular vesicles (EVs) can substitute the anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring activities of their parental MSCs in a rat model of contusion spinal cord injury. We report that MSC-EVs were as potent as the parental intact cells in reducing the level of neuroinflammation for up to 2 weeks post-injury. Acute application of EVs after spinal cord injury was shown to robustly decrease the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord parenchyma in the very early phase of secondary damage. Moreover, the anti-scarring impact of MSC-EVs was even more efficient than the parental cells. We therefore conclude that anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring activities of MSC application can be mediated by their secreted EVs. In light of their substantial safety and druggability advantages, EVs may have a high potential in early therapeutic treatment following traumatic spinal cord injury.

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