Investigating the Effect of Human Adipose Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes on Survival and Neural Differentiation of PC12 Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells can be differentiated into multiple cell lineages, and secrete different factors. These secretions contain molecules and extracellular vesicles that have some effects. Exosomes are nanovesicles that enter protein and genetic material to target cells, and thereby induce proliferation, survival, and neural differentiation in target cells. So, exosomes can be considered as an ideal source for non-cellular therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of human adipose stem cell (ASC)-derived exosomes on survival and neural differentiation of pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12). The adipose tissue samples were obtained from young donors after signing the consent. The stem cells were isolated and cultured. Then exosomes were isolated from supernatant. In order to neural differentiation, the PC12 cells were treated in four groups with exosomes, nerve growth factor (NGF), NGF/exosome, and control for 7 days. The cells survival was assayed using MTT assay and neural differentiation of cells was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Based on MTT assay, there was significant difference in cell survival between exosome-treated group and other groups at days 1, 3, and 7. The results of real-time PCR showed that the expression of neural marker microtubule-associated protein 2 (Map2) significantly increased in exosome-treated group compared to other group at day 7 (P < 0.001). This study revealed that ASC-derived exosomes improved the survival and neural differentiation of PC12 cells. Our results suggest that exosomes may pave the way for non-cellular treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.