Glia: Transporting cargo from A to B.

摘要

What are the functional consequences of oligodendrocyte-to-neuron communication through exosome release and internalization? Comparing the viability of neurons cultured in the presence or absence of oligodendrocyte-derived exosomes, the authors found that under optimal conditions, the presence of exosomes did not change the metabolic activity of cultured neurons. Exposure to oxidative stress or nutrient deficiency, however, caused neurons with access to oligodendrocyte-derived exosomes to retain a level of metabolic activity that was closer to that under the unstressed condition, indicating that exosomes might confer neuroprotection.Overall, these findings indicate that exosome-mediated glia-neuron communication is important for supporting metabolism and maintaining neuronal integrity under conditions of cellular stress.