Priming mesenchymal stromal cells with neurotrophic factors boosts the neuro-regenerative potential of their secretome

Abstract

Aim: To explore the neuroprotective potential of the secretome (conditioned medium, CM) derived from neurotrophic factors-primed mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs; primed CM) using an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced in vitromodel system. Methods: Establishment of ER-stressed in vitro model, immunofluorescence microscopy, real-time PCR, western blot. Results: Exposure of ER-stressed Neuro-2a cells to the primed-CM significantly restored the neurite outgrowth parameters and improved the expression of neuronal markers like Tubb3 and Map2a in them compared to the naïve CM. Primed CM also suppressed the induction of apoptotic markers Bax and Sirt1, inflammatory markers Cox2 and NF-κB, and stress kinases such as p38 and SAPK/JNK in the stress-induced cells. Conclusion: The secretome from primed MSCs significantly restored ER stress-induced loss of neurogenesis.