Exosomes from human urine‐derived stem cells enhanced neurogenesis via miR‐26a/HDAC6 axis after ischaemic stroke

Endogenous neurogenesis holds promise for brain repair and long‐term functional recovery after ischaemic stroke. However, the effects of exosomes from human urine‐derived stem cells (USC‐Exos) in neurogenesis remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether USC‐Exos enhanced neurogenesis and promoted functional recovery in brain ischaemia. By using an experimental stroke rat model, we found that intravenous injection of USC‐Exos enhanced neurogenesis and alleviated neurological deficits in post‐ischaemic stroke rats. We used neural stem cells (NSCs) subjected to oxygen‐glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) as an in vitro model of ischaemic stroke. The in vitro results suggested that USC‐Exos promoted both proliferation and neuronal differentiation of NSCs after OGD/R. Notably, a further mechanism study revealed that the pro‐neurogenesis effects of USC‐Exos may be partially attributed to histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibition via the transfer of exosomal microRNA‐26a (miR‐26a). Taken together, this study indicates that USC‐Exos can be used as a novel promising strategy for brain ischaemia, which highlights the application of USC‐Exos.