Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that targets myelin in the central nervous system. The combination of immune activation in the central nervous system and degradation of the myelin sheath result in progressive functional deficits. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated to possess regenerative properties in diseases models associated with the central nervous system, including multiple sclerosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that exosomes mediate the therapeutic effects of MSCs in preclinical studies and potentially hold several advantages above the use of cell-based therapies. However, it remains unclear whether exosomes derived from MSCs are able to reduce disease burden in multiple sclerosis. Here we demonstrated that MSC-derived exosomes (mExo) were readily taken up by several target neuronal cell populations. mExo had anti-inflammatory properties and potentiated proliferation of T regulatory cells. mExo also induced proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells for remyelination. Most importantly, mExo promoted functional recovery in a model of relapse remitting multiple sclerosis(EAE). These data suggest that exosomes derived from hBM-MSCs are a viable candidate that warrants further investigation for the future treatment of multiple sclerosis.