FIGURE 3.
Astrocytes and surrounding cells in the microenvironment regularly communicate and interact with each other via exosomes. Cells may use astrocytes to exert their effects. For instance, BM-derived stem cells miR-138-5p-overexpressing exosomes prevent astrocytes from apoptosis after ischemic stroke by targeting lipocalin 2 or high level of miR-133b in astrocytes can down-regulate the expression of CTGF, which cause glial scar reduction and further increase the recovery post-ischemic stroke.