Exosomes Derived From CircAkap7-Modified Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protect Against Cerebral Ischemic Injury

Background Cerebral ischemic injury is a complicated pathological process. Adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) have been used as a therapeutic strategy, with their therapeutic effects chiefly attributed to paracrine action rather thantrans-differentiation. Studies have shown that circAkap7 was found to be downregulated in a mouse model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Methods To explore whether exosomes derived from circAkap7-modified ADSCs (exo-circAkap7) have therapeutic effects on cerebral ischemic injury, a mouse model of tMCAO, as well as anin vitromodel of oxygen and glucose deprivation-reoxygenation (OGD-R) in primary astrocytes, were used. Results Results showed that treatment with exo-circAkap7 protected against tMCAO in mice, andin vitroexperiments confirmed that co-culture with exo-circAkap7 attenuated OGD-R-induced cellular injury by absorbing miR-155-5p, promoting ATG12-mediated autophagy, and inhibiting NRF2-mediated oxidative stress. Conclusion We demonstrate here that exo-circAkap7 protected against cerebral ischemic injury by promoting autophagy and ameliorating oxidative stress.