ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate whether neural stem cell-derived exosomes promote the viability and inhibit the apoptosis of neurons under cobalt chloride(CoCl2)-induced hypoxia in vitro.METHODS:The exosomes were isolated based on ultracentrifugation.The exosomal markers,ALG-2-interacting protein X(Alix)and tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101)were identified by Western blot.The shape of exosomes was observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM).The size distributions of exosomes were analyzed by nanoparticle analysis(qNano).The neurons were exposed in CoCl2at different doses(200~600 μmol/L)for 24 h.The exosomes were co-cultured with the neurons pre-treated with CoCl2.The viability and apoptosis of the neurons were measured by CCK-8 assay and TUNEL method.RESULTS: The exosomes released from the neural stem cells expressed exosomal markers Alix and TSG 101.They also displayed a cup-shaped appearance observed under TEM and their sizes were(95.0 ±23.5)nm(n=370).The neuronal viability was sig-nificantly inhibited by CoCl 2in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05).After treatment with exosomes,the viability of the neuron pre-treated with CoCl2was increased and the apoptotic rate was decreased(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Neural stem cell-derived exosomes promote the viability and inhibit the apoptosis of rat neurons uneder hypoxia.