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[This article belongs to Volume - 70, Issue - 2]
Published on : 2025-02-14 14:03:49
Article Code: AMJ-14-02-2025-12313
Title : Neural Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Microglial Polarization and Enhance Functional Recovery in Spinal Cord Injury
Author(s) : Dr. David Kim, Dr. Layla Mahmoud
Abstract :
The inflammatory cascade following spinal cord injury (SCI) impairs axonal regeneration. We investigated the
immunomodulatory properties of neural stem cell (NSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in a contusion SCI rat
model. Systemic administration of NSC-EVs at 24 hours post-injury shifted microglia/macrophages from pro
inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, evidenced by reduced iNOS and elevated Arg1 expression. EV
cargo analysis revealed enrichment of miR-124 and miR-145, which target MCP-1 and TLR4 signaling pathways.
Treated animals demonstrated improved Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scores, enhanced serotonergic
fiber sprouting, and reduced glial scar formation. NSC-EVs represent a cell-free, immunologically inert therapeutic
for SCI.