Neural recovery after cortical injury: Effects of MSC derived extracellular vesicles on motor circuit remodeling in rhesus monkeys

This study investigates how mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSCd EVs) can help the brain recover after an injury to the motor cortex. The research focuses on how these EVs affect the reorganization of brain circuits responsible for movement. The study found that EV treatment was associated with a greater density of activated pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex and more active inhibitory interneurons in premotor areas. It also observed a decrease in synapse density on lower motor neurons in the spinal cord. These changes suggest that EVs may reduce inflammation and hyperexcitability after injury, leading to better motor function. This study indicates that MSCd EVs could be a potential therapy for improving recovery after cortical injury.

• 1
  EV treatment resulted in a greater density of task-related cfos+ pyramidal neurons in the deep layers of the perilesional primary motor cortex (periM1).
• 2
  In the dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC), EV treatment was associated with increased densities of task-related cfos+ inhibitory interneurons in the upper layers.
• 3
  EV treatment led to a lower density of synapses on MAP2+ lower motor neurons in the contralesional ventral horn (VH) of the cervical spinal cord (CSC).