The primary astrocytic mitochondrial transplantation ameliorates ischemic stroke

Abstract

Mitochondria are important organelle which regulate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, intracellular calcium buffering, cell survival and apoptosis. They are known to deliver the potential therapeutic role in injured cells through transcellular transfer via extracellular vesicles (EVs), gap junctions, and tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). Astrocytes secrete numerous factors that promote neuron survival, synapse formation, and plasticity. Recent studies have demonstrated that astrocytes transfer mitochondria into damaged neurons to enhance cell viability and recovery. In this study, we observed that treatment of isolated mitochondria from rat primary astrocytes enhance cell viability and ameliorate H2 O2 -damaged neurons. Interestingly, the isolated astrocytic mitochondria increased cell number in damaged neurons but not normal neurons, even though the mitochondrial transfer efficiency was no difference between them. Furthermore, this effect showed in astrocytic mitochondrial transplantation to rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models. These findings suggest that mitochondrial transfer therapy can be used to acute ischemic stroke and other diseases treatment.