Activated Microglia-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Elicit a Pro-Inflammatory Astrocytic Response via Cargo-Dependent Mechanisms

Biomolecules, vol. 16, pp. 224

Abstract

Neuroinflammation plays a dual role in brain health supporting defense and repair, but causes neurotoxicity when persistent. Microglia and astrocytes coordinate these responses through cytokine signaling and extracellular vesicles (EVs), though their vesicle-mediated communication remains unclear. This study investigated whether EVs from activated microglia (ABEVs) influence astrocyte polarization and inflammatory signaling. BV-2 microglial cells were activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and microvesicle (ABMVs) and exosome (ABEXs) EVs were isolated via sequential ultracentrifugation. Primary mouse astrocytes were treated with LPS, ABMVs, or ABEXs, and expression of reactive astrocyte markers (C3, Serpina3n, S100a10, Sphk1) and inflammatory mediators (Lcn2, Il-1β, Ccl2, Ccl5, Cxcl10) was quantified, and EV protein cargo was analyzed by mass spectrometry and proteomics. LPS-treated astrocytes exhibited increased C3 and Serpina3n and decreased S100a10, consistent with reactive polarization. ABEXs mimicked this effect, significantly inducing C3, Serpina3n, and Sphk1, whereas ABMVs had a weaker influence. ABEXs also upregulated Lcn2 and Il-1β, partially reproducing microglial inflammatory effects. Proteomic profiling revealed marked cargo differences: ABEXs exhibited 16 upregulated proteins linked to NOD-like receptor signaling compared to non-activated BEXs, and 165 proteins associated with ribosome biogenesis and spliceosome pathways compared to ABMVs, indicating subtype-specific signaling potential. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that microglia-derived EVs modulate astrocytic polarization and cytokine profiles in a cargo-dependent manner, emphasizing their importance in interglial communication and revealing novel targets for neuroinflammatory modulation.

Authors 8

1. Miriam Scheld corresponding Aachen Institute of Neuroanatomy

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Nadine Jülich Aachen Institute of Neuroanatomy

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Katharina Vöhringer Aachen Institute of Neuroanatomy

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Adib Zendedel

   University of Basel

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland

5. Cordian Beyer Aachen Institute of Neuroanatomy

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany

6. Sebastian Kant Aachen Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany

7. Natalie Tillmann Aachen Institute of Neuroanatomy

   University of Bonn · Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Anatomy, Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany

   Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany

8. Nima Sanadgol Aachen Institute of Neuroanatomy

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany