IFNγ-stimulated dendritic cell exosomes as a potential therapeutic for remyelination

Dendritic cells (DCs) release exosomes with different characteristics based on stimulus. Here, we showed that DC cultures stimulated with low-level IFN gamma released exosomes (IFN gamma-DC-Exos) that contained microRNA species that can increase baseline myelination, reduce oxidative stress, and improve remyelination following acute lysolecithin-induced demyelination. Furthermore, nasally administered IFN gamma-DC-Exos increased CNS myelination in vivo. IFN gamma-DC-Exos were preferentially taken up by oligodendrocytes, suggesting that they directly impact oligodendrocytes to increase myelination. Thus, our results show great potential for use of these IFN gamma-DC-Exos as a therapeutic to promote remyelination in multiple sclerosis and dysmyelinating syndromes. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.