Extracellular vesicles from a muscle cell line (C2C12) enhance cell survival and neurite outgrowth of a motor neuron cell line (NSC-34)

Extracellular vesicles, initially viewed as cellular waste disposal, have gained attention for their role in intercellular signaling. This study explores their impact on nerve regeneration, specifically how muscle-derived extracellular vesicles affect motor neuron survival and neurite outgrowth. Damaged peripheral nerves disrupt communication between motor neurons and muscles, often leading to impaired movement. Current surgical repairs have limited success, highlighting the need to understand factors influencing axon outgrowth and motor neuron-muscle interaction. The study uses C2C12 muscle cells and NSC-34 motor neuron cells to investigate whether muscle-derived extracellular vesicles can enhance motor neuron survival and neurite outgrowth. The results indicate significant effects of these vesicles on motor neuron properties.

• 1
  Extracellular vesicles from muscle cells significantly increase the average neurite length per neuron in motor neuron cultures.
• 2
  Muscle-derived extracellular vesicles enhance neurite complexity, as indicated by an increase in the number of branches per neurite.
• 3
  Extracellular vesicles from muscle cells improve the survival rate of motor neurons in culture, demonstrating a dose-dependent effect.