ABSTRACT
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disabling and highly prevalent neurodegenerative condition, for which there are no effective therapies. Soluble oligomers of the amyloid-ß peptide (AßOs) are thought to be proximal neurotoxins involved in early neuronal oxidative stress and synapse damage, ultimately leading to neurodegeneration and memory impairment in AD. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) against the deleterious impact of AßOs on hippocampal neurons. To this end, we established transwell cocultures of rat hippocampal neurons and MSCs. We show that MSCs and MSC-derived extracellular vesicles protect neurons against AßO-induced oxidative stress and synapse damage, revealed by loss of pre- and postsynaptic markers. Protection by MSCs entails three complementary mechanisms: 1) internalization and degradation of AßOs; 2) release of extracellular vesicles containing active catalase; and 3) selective secretion of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and vascular endothelial growth factor to the medium. Results support the notion that MSCs may represent a promising alternative for cell-based therapies in AD.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism , Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism , Hippocampus/cytology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology , Neurons/metabolism , Oxidative Stress , Synapses/metabolism , Alzheimer Disease/genetics , Amyloid beta-Peptides/chemistry , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Coculture Techniques , Extracellular Vesicles/genetics , Hippocampus/metabolism , Humans , Interleukin-10/metabolism , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Male , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism , Neurons/cytology , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolismABSTRACT
AIM: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties, which are partly mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) secretion. We aimed to evaluate the effects of human Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) and their EVs on rat hippocampal cultures subjected to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). MATERIALS & METHODS: Hippocampal dissociated cultures were either co-cultured with WJ-MSCs or treated with their EVs prior to H2O2 exposure and reactive oxygen species levels and cell viability were evaluated. RESULTS: Coculture with WJ-MSCs or pre-incubation with EVs prior to the insult reduced reactive oxygen species after H2O2 exposure. Cell viability was improved only when coculture was maintained following the insult, while EVs did not significantly improve cell viability. CONCLUSION: WJ-MSCs have potential antioxidant and neuroprotective effects on hippocampal cultures which might be partially mediated by EVs.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been explored as promising tools for treatment of several neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. MSCs release abundant extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing a variety of biomolecules, including mRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins. We hypothesized that EVs derived from human Wharton's jelly would act as mediators of the communication between hMSCs and neurons and could protect hippocampal neurons from damage induced by Alzheimer's disease-linked amyloid beta oligomers (AßOs). METHODS: We isolated and characterized EVs released by human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC-EVs). The neuroprotective action of hMSC-EVs was investigated in primary hippocampal cultures exposed to AßOs. RESULTS: hMSC-EVs were internalized by hippocampal cells in culture, and this was enhanced in the presence of AßOs in the medium. hMSC-EVs protected hippocampal neurons from oxidative stress and synapse damage induced by AßOs. Neuroprotection by hMSC-EVs was mediated by catalase and was abolished in the presence of the catalase inhibitor, aminotriazole. CONCLUSIONS: hMSC-EVs protected hippocampal neurons from damage induced by AßOs, and this was related to the transfer of enzymatically active catalase contained in EVs. Results suggest that hMSC-EVs should be further explored as a cell-free therapeutic approach to prevent neuronal damage in Alzheimer's disease.