Comparison of miRNA between normal rat plasma exosomes and melatonin pretreated rat plasma exosomes

Stroke places a huge burden on society today, and great of studies were devoted for seeking safe and effective therapeutic strategy to improve the prognosis of stroke. Plasma exosome has exhibited its therapeutic potential against ischemia and reperfusion injury via ameliorating inflammation. To enhance therapeutic potential in patients with ischemic injury, we isolated exosomes from melatonin pretreated rat plasma and assessed the neurological protective effect in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia. Treatment with melatonin enhanced plasma exosome therapeutic effect against ischemia induced inflammatory response and inflammasome mediated pyroptosis. In addition, we confirmed ischemic stroke induced pyroptotic cell death mainly occurred in microglia, while administration of melatonin treated exosome further effectively decreased infract volume and improved function recovery via regulation of TLR-4/NF-?B signaling pathway. Finally, the altered miRNAs profile in melatonin treated plasma exosomes demonstrated the regulatory mechanisms. This study suggests plasma exosome with melatonin pretreatment might be a more effective strategy for patients with ischemic brain injury. Further exploration of key molecules in plasma exosome may devote more therapeutic value for cerebral ischemic injury. Overall design: Examination of miRNA differences in normal (n=3) and melatonin-treated (n=3) rat plasma exosomes