Fig. 1.

The characteristics and functions of hNSCs and their exosomes. (A) The neurosphere morphology of hNSCs cultured in day 3 and 6, immunofluorescence shown hNSCs specific markers (Nestin, SOX2 and Musashi1 with green color), and hNSCs differentiated into neurons (Tuj1, green color), astrocytes (GFAP, red color) and oligodendrocytes (MOG, green color). Tuj1 = β-tubulin III, GFAP = glial fibrillary acidic protein, MOG = Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. (B) TEM of hNSCs shown that exosomal-like vesicles in MVBs were just released from cell memnbrane (Upper), and TEM of isolated exosomes from hNSCs presented small lipid bilayer membrane vesicles (Lower). Red arrows indicated exosomes. (C) The result of NTA shown the particle distribution of exosomes derived from hNSCs, and exosomes significantly expressed exosomal marker proteins CD63 and CD81 by flow cytometry. (D) The neurological functions of ischemic stroke rats were evaluated from 1 day to 28 days after exosomes treatment via mNSS and Rotarod tests. n = 5 rats/group (**p < 0.01). (E) The infarct volume of brain ischemia rats was examined by MRI at 28th day after stroke and transplantation. Analysis of T2-weighted images (T2WI) revealed a more reduction in infarct volume (ischemic lesion shown in white) in hNSC-Exo group relative to control group. n = 3 rats/group. (*p < 0.05). (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)