Fig. 6

hpMSC-derived exosomes promoted the proliferation of NSCs by activating MEK/ERK/CREB signaling pathway in vitro. a Representative images of the rosette structures of NSCs and of the NSCs markers Nestin, Pax6 and Sox2 immunofluorescence staining (scale bars 20 μm). b PKH67 labeled-exosomes uptake by the cells was confirmed by confocal microscopy (scale bars 5 μm). c Representative images of immunofluorescence staining of Ki67 and P-CREB (scale bars 20 μm). d, e Quantification of Ki67⁺ and P-CREB⁺ cells. f–j Western blot detection of the expression of Nestin and Sox2 special markers of NSCs, and of the phosphorylation levels of MEK, ERK, and CREB. GAPDH was used as loading control. Each assay was performed in triplicate (mean ± SD, unpaired t test, *p < 0.05 was considered significatively different)