Induced neural progenitor cell-derived extracellular vesicles promote neural progenitor cell survival via extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.

Proposed model for the anti-apoptotic effects of induced neural stem/progenitor cell (iNPC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). iNPC release EVs that are abundantly loaded with growth factor-related proteins. These growth factor-enriched EVs enhance the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), but not AKt. The EV-induced activation of ERK pathway then inhibit the apoptosis of NPCs in various pathological conditions including oxidative stress and starvation.