THBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes exacerbates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by inducing ferroptosis in endothelial cells

Abstract Macrophages play a critical role in the development of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a pivotal pathological process that exacerbates AIS, with exosomes act as crucial mediators. However, the effects and mechanisms of action of macrophage-derived...

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Main Authors: Chang Liu, Haijing Sui, Zhixi Li, Zhenyu Sun, Chenglong Li, Guangmin Chen, Zhaoxue Ma, Hang Cao, Hongjie Xi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Neuroinflammation
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-025-03382-x
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author Chang Liu
Haijing Sui
Zhixi Li
Zhenyu Sun
Chenglong Li
Guangmin Chen
Zhaoxue Ma
Hang Cao
Hongjie Xi
author_facet Chang Liu
Haijing Sui
Zhixi Li
Zhenyu Sun
Chenglong Li
Guangmin Chen
Zhaoxue Ma
Hang Cao
Hongjie Xi
author_sort Chang Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Macrophages play a critical role in the development of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a pivotal pathological process that exacerbates AIS, with exosomes act as crucial mediators. However, the effects and mechanisms of action of macrophage-derived exosomes on CIRI remain unclear. This study demonstrated that macrophage-derived exosomes induce endothelial ferroptosis and barrier disruption during CIRI. Through proteomic sequencing and the reanalysis of transcriptomic and single-cell sequencing data, thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) was identified as a key exosomal molecule. Elevated THBS1 was observed in exosomes and monocytes from the peripheral blood of patients with AIS in oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-stimulated THP-1 and RAW264.7, in their secreted exosomes, and in macrophages within the brains of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mice. Additionally, THBS1 expression in exosomes was positively correlated with vascular barrier injury biomarkers, including MMP-9 and S100B. Modulation of THBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes affected exosome-induced ferroptosis in endothelial cells. The mechanism by which THBS1 binds directly to OTUD5 and promotes GPX4 ubiquitination was elucidated using RNA interference, adeno-associated virus transfection, and endothelial-specific Gpx4 knockout mice. High-throughput screening of small-molecule compounds targeting THBS1 was performed. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and cellular thermal shift assays further confirmed that salvianolic acid B (SAB) has a potent binding affinity for THBS1. SAB treatment inhibited the interaction between THBS1 and OTUD5, leading to reduced GPX4 ubiquitination. Further research revealed that SAB treatment enhanced the cerebral protective effects of THBS1 inhibition. In conclusion, this study explored the role of exosome-mediated signaling between macrophages and cerebral vascular endothelial cells in CIRI, highlighting the THBS1-OTUD5-GPX4 axis as a driver of endothelial ferroptosis and brain injury. Targeting this signaling axis represents a potential therapeutic strategy for treating CIRI. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-a99d83d76ead4d92b5159fa7d47db5802025-08-20T03:03:50ZengBMCJournal of Neuroinflammation1742-20942025-02-0122112410.1186/s12974-025-03382-xTHBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes exacerbates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by inducing ferroptosis in endothelial cellsChang Liu0Haijing Sui1Zhixi Li2Zhenyu Sun3Chenglong Li4Guangmin Chen5Zhaoxue Ma6Hang Cao7Hongjie Xi8Department of Anesthesiology, Harbin Medical University Cancer HospitalThe Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Research of Heilongjiang ProvinceThe Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Research of Heilongjiang ProvinceThe Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Research of Heilongjiang ProvinceDepartment of Anesthesiology, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityDepartment of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityThe Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Research of Heilongjiang ProvinceThe Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Research of Heilongjiang ProvinceThe Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Research of Heilongjiang ProvinceAbstract Macrophages play a critical role in the development of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a pivotal pathological process that exacerbates AIS, with exosomes act as crucial mediators. However, the effects and mechanisms of action of macrophage-derived exosomes on CIRI remain unclear. This study demonstrated that macrophage-derived exosomes induce endothelial ferroptosis and barrier disruption during CIRI. Through proteomic sequencing and the reanalysis of transcriptomic and single-cell sequencing data, thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) was identified as a key exosomal molecule. Elevated THBS1 was observed in exosomes and monocytes from the peripheral blood of patients with AIS in oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-stimulated THP-1 and RAW264.7, in their secreted exosomes, and in macrophages within the brains of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mice. Additionally, THBS1 expression in exosomes was positively correlated with vascular barrier injury biomarkers, including MMP-9 and S100B. Modulation of THBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes affected exosome-induced ferroptosis in endothelial cells. The mechanism by which THBS1 binds directly to OTUD5 and promotes GPX4 ubiquitination was elucidated using RNA interference, adeno-associated virus transfection, and endothelial-specific Gpx4 knockout mice. High-throughput screening of small-molecule compounds targeting THBS1 was performed. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and cellular thermal shift assays further confirmed that salvianolic acid B (SAB) has a potent binding affinity for THBS1. SAB treatment inhibited the interaction between THBS1 and OTUD5, leading to reduced GPX4 ubiquitination. Further research revealed that SAB treatment enhanced the cerebral protective effects of THBS1 inhibition. In conclusion, this study explored the role of exosome-mediated signaling between macrophages and cerebral vascular endothelial cells in CIRI, highlighting the THBS1-OTUD5-GPX4 axis as a driver of endothelial ferroptosis and brain injury. Targeting this signaling axis represents a potential therapeutic strategy for treating CIRI. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-025-03382-xIschemic strokeCerebral ischemia–reperfusion injuryMacrophageEndothelial cellsExosomes
spellingShingle Chang Liu
Haijing Sui
Zhixi Li
Zhenyu Sun
Chenglong Li
Guangmin Chen
Zhaoxue Ma
Hang Cao
Hongjie Xi
THBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes exacerbates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by inducing ferroptosis in endothelial cells
Journal of Neuroinflammation
Ischemic stroke
Cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury
Macrophage
Endothelial cells
Exosomes
title THBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes exacerbates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by inducing ferroptosis in endothelial cells
title_full THBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes exacerbates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by inducing ferroptosis in endothelial cells
title_fullStr THBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes exacerbates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by inducing ferroptosis in endothelial cells
title_full_unstemmed THBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes exacerbates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by inducing ferroptosis in endothelial cells
title_short THBS1 in macrophage-derived exosomes exacerbates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by inducing ferroptosis in endothelial cells
title_sort thbs1 in macrophage derived exosomes exacerbates cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury by inducing ferroptosis in endothelial cells
topic Ischemic stroke
Cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury
Macrophage
Endothelial cells
Exosomes
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-025-03382-x
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