实验动物与比较医学 ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 20-31.DOI: 10.12300/j.issn.1674-5817.2025.034

• 人类疾病动物模型 • 上一篇    下一篇

外泌体通过NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4通路调控铁死亡治疗小鼠缺血性脑卒中

徐英韬, 王蒙蒙, 林平, 迟海涛, 王怡, 白鹰()()   

  1. 大连大学附属新华医院神经内科, 大连 116023
  • 收稿日期:2025-03-04 修回日期:2025-06-13 出版日期:2026-02-25 发布日期:2026-02-14
  • 作者简介:徐英韬(1997—),男,硕士,住院医师,研究方向:缺血性脑卒中与神经保护。E-mail: 951072549@qq.com
    BAI Ying (ORCID: 0009-0008-1965-8801), E-mail: 1029981825@qq.com
    白鹰,博士,教授,主任医师,硕士研究生导师,大连市高端人才,辽宁省临床重点专科和大连市一级医学重点学科带头人。兼任中国免疫学会神经免疫分会委员,中国卒中学会免疫分会委员,辽宁省医学会神经病学分会神经免疫学组委员,辽宁省细胞生物学学会神经免疫专业委员会副主任委员,大连市医学会神经病学分会副主任委员,大连市卒中学会副会长。从事神经内科临床、教学和科研工作36年,主要致力于脑血管病、神经免疫性疾病临床诊治和基础研究。主持国家自然科学基金1项,主持和参与国家级、省部级和市级科研项目20余项,获大连市科技进步奖三等奖4项,发表论文80余篇,其中SCI收录20余篇。(1965—),女,博士,教授,主任医师,研究方向:缺血性脑卒中与神经保护。E-mail: 1029981825@qq.com。ORCID: 0009-0008-1965-8801
  • 基金资助:
    大连市科技创新基金项目“miR-451/Phd3/p53轴抑制缺血性脑卒中铁死亡作用机制及外泌体装载miR-451神经保护治疗研究”(2022JJ13SN063)

Exosomes Treat Ischemic Stroke by Regulation of Ferroptosis Through the NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 Pathway in Mice

XU Yingtao, WANG Mengmeng, LIN Ping, CHI Haitao, WANG Yi, BAI Ying()()   

  1. Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Dalian University, Dalian 116023, China
  • Received:2025-03-04 Revised:2025-06-13 Published:2026-02-25 Online:2026-02-14

摘要:

目的 通过电凝法阻断小鼠大脑中动脉构建中动脉闭塞(middle cerebral artery occlusion,MCAO)模型,研究人羊膜间充质干细胞(human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells,hAMSCs)来源的外泌体(exosome,EXO)改善缺血性脑卒中及调控神经细胞铁死亡(ferroptosis)损伤的作用机制。 方法 将32只6~8周龄SPF级雄性C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为假手术组(Sham)、模型组(MCAO)、模型+生理盐水组(MCAO+NaCl)、模型+外泌体组(MCAO+EXO),每组8只。使用电凝法建立小鼠大脑MCAO模型,Sham组暴露大脑中动脉但不实施电凝;在电凝造模24 h前,向MCAO+EXO组小鼠尾静脉注射100 μL来自hAMSCs培养上清液的外泌体(9.5×1011个/mL),向MCAO+NaCl组小鼠尾静脉注射同体积生理盐水。造模24 h后,采用Longa神经功能缺损评分法评价各组小鼠的运动神经功能损害程度;通过2,3,5-三苯基氯化四氮唑染色法评估各组小鼠脑梗死体积占比差异;通过HE染色法评估各组小鼠缺血部位脑组织中神经细胞形态学差异。通过微量比色法评估各组小鼠脑梗死区及其周围组织中亚铁离子(Fe2+)、丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)、总谷胱甘肽(total glutathione,total GSH)、氧化型谷胱甘肽(oxidized glutathione,GSSG)和还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)的含量差异。通过实时荧光定量PCR法检测各组小鼠脑梗死区及其周围组织中铁死亡相关因子包括核因子-红细胞系2相关因子2(nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2,NRF2)、溶质载体家族7成员11(solute carrier family 7 member 11,SLC7A11)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶4(glutathione peroxidase 4,GPX4)的mRNA表达水平。通过蛋白质印迹法检测各组小鼠脑梗死区及其周围组织中NRF2、SLC7A11和GPX4蛋白表达水平。 结果 相较于MCAO组,MCAO+EXO组的Longa评分显著降低(P<0.01)。MCAO组小鼠脑组织出现明显梗死灶,MCAO+EXO组相较MCAO组的脑梗死体积占比显著减少(P<0.001)。与Sham组相比,MCAO组出现神经细胞空泡变性,细胞核固缩、碎裂,细胞核结构不清晰,神经细胞排列杂乱。相较于MCAO组,MCAO+EXO组小鼠的神经细胞结构较为完整,细胞核大而规整,位于细胞中央。MCAO组小鼠的脑梗死区及周围组织中Fe2+和MDA含量较Sham组显著增加(P<0.001),MCAO+EXO组的Fe2+和MDA含量较MCAO组显著减少(P<0.01)。相较于Sham组,MCAO模型组小鼠的total GSH、GSSG、GSH含量均显著减少(P<0.01);相较于MCAO组,MCAO+EXO组小鼠的total GSH、GSH含量显著增加(P<0.001),GSSG含量无显著变化(P>0.05)。相较于Sham组,MCAO组小鼠的NRF2、SLC7A11、GPX4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平均显著降低(P<0.01,P<0.001);相较于MCAO组,MCAO+EXO组的NRF2、SLC7A11、GPX4 mRNA及蛋白表达水平均显著升高(P<0.05)。 结论 在小鼠MCAO模型中,尾静脉注射hAMSCs来源的外泌体可以改善小鼠运动功能,减少梗死面积,保护神经细胞形态,降低神经损伤程度。外泌体可能通过激活NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4通路,减少MCAO模型小鼠的脑神经细胞铁死亡而发挥保护作用。

关键词: 缺血性脑卒中, 大脑中动脉闭塞, 铁死亡, 外泌体, NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4通路, C57BL/6J小鼠

Abstract:

Objective A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model is established by electrocoagulation of the middle cerebral artery. The study examines the mechanism by which exosomes (EXO) derived from human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) improve ischemic stroke and regulate neural ferroptosis-related injury. Methods Thirty-two SPF-grade male C57BL/6J mice aged 6 - 8 weeks were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 per group): sham group (Sham), model group (MCAO), MCAO plus normal saline group (MCAO+NaCl), and MCAO plus exosome group (MCAO+EXO). The mouse MCAO model was established by electrocoagulation of the middle cerebral artery. Mice in the Sham group underwent exposure of the middle cerebral artery without electrocoagulation. Twenty-four hours before MCAO induction, mice in the MCAO+EXO group received a tail vein injection of 100 μL of exosomes derived from the culture supernatant of hAMSCs at a concentration of 9.5×1011 particles/mL. Mice in the MCAO+NaCl group were injected with an equal volume of normal saline via the tail vein. Twenty-four hours after model establishment, neurological deficits were evaluated using the Longa neurological deficit scoring system. Cerebral infarct volume was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate morphological changes of neurons in the ischemic brain regions. The contents of ferrous iron (Fe2+), malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (total GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the infarct core and peri-infarct regions were determined using microcolorimetric assays to evaluate differences among groups. The mRNA expression levels of ferroptosis-related factors, including nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in the infarct core and peri-infarct regions were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Protein expression levels of NRF2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 in the infarct and peri-infarct regions of each group were analyzed by Western blotting. Results Compared with the MCAO group, the Longa neurological deficit score was significantly reduced in the MCAO+EXO group (P<0.01). Prominent cerebral infarction was observed in the MCAO group, whereas the infarct volume ratio was markedly decreased in the MCAO+EXO group compared with the MCAO group (P<0.001). Histopathological analysis revealed that mice in the MCAO group exhibited obvious neuronal damage, including cytoplasmic vacuolar degeneration, nuclear pyknosis and fragmentation, unclear nuclear structure, and disorganized neuronal arrangement, compared with the Sham group. In contrast, neurons in the MCAO+EXO group showed relatively preserved morphology, with intact cellular structures and large, regular nuclei located centrally within the cells. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that Fe2+ and MDA levels in the infarct core and peri-infarct regions were significantly increased in the MCAO group compared with the Sham group (P<0.001). These levels were significantly reduced in the MCAO+EXO group compared with the MCAO group (P<0.01). In addition, total glutathione (total GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were markedly decreased in the MCAO group relative to the Sham group (P<0.01). Compared with the MCAO group, the MCAO+EXO group exhibited significantly increased levels of total GSH and GSH (P<0.001), while no significant change was observed in GSSG levels (P>0.05). Furthermore, both mRNA and protein expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) were significantly downregulated in the MCAO group compared with the Sham group (P<0.01, P<0.001). In contrast, both mRNA and protein expression levels of NRF2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 were significantly upregulated in the MCAO+EXO group compared with the MCAO group (P<0.05). Conclusion In the mouse MCAO model, tail vein injection of exosomes derived from hAMSCs can improve motor function, reduce infarct area, protect neuronal cell morphology, and reduce the degree of nerve injury. Exosomes may exert a protective effect by activating the NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway and reducing ferroptosis in neuronal cells of MCAO model mice.

Key words: Ischemic stroke, Middle cerebral artery occlusion, Ferroptosis, Exosomes, NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway, C57BL/6J Mice

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