Inflammatory stimulation of astrocytes affects the expression of miRNA-22-3p within NSCs-EVs regulating remyelination by targeting KDM3A

BACKGROUND: Endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) are critical for the remyelination of axons following spinal cord injury (SCI). Cell–cell communication plays a key role in the regulation of the differentiation of NSCs. Astrocytes act as immune cells that encounter early inflammation, forming a glial barrier to prevent the spread of destructive inflammation following SCI. In addition, the cytokines released from astrocytes participate in the regulation of the differentiation of NSCs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cytokines released from inflammation-stimulated astrocytes on the differentiation of NSCs following SCI and to explore the influence of these cytokines on NSC–NSC communication. RESULTS: Lipopolysaccharide stimulation of astrocytes increased bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) release, which not only promoted the differentiation of NSCs into astrocytes and inhibited axon remyelination in SCI lesions but also enriched miRNA-22-3p within extracellular vesicles derived from NSCs. These miRNA-22 molecules function as a feedback loop to promote NSC differentiation into oligodendrocytes and the remyelination of axons following SCI by targeting KDM3A. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that by releasing BMP2, astrocytes were able to regulate the differentiation of NSCs and NSC–NSC communication by enriching miRNA-22 within NSC-EVs, which in turn promoted the regeneration and remyelination of axons by targeting the KDM3A/TGF-beta axis and the recovery of neurological outcomes following SCI. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-023-03284-w.