Unfortunately, today cancers such as leukemia metastasize to the central nervous system (CNS). Cancer cells proliferate and resist apoptosis features. On the other hand, exosomes promote cancer through cell-to-cell communication. This study investigated the effect of leukemia exosomes on the expression of apoptosis-related genes in astrocytes.

After the primary culture of brain tissue cells, Immunocytochemical evaluation of cells was performed by specific antibodies Nestin, SOX2, and GFAP. Then, astrocytes were purified from other cells by trypsinage. Exosomes were extracted from supernatant of Nalm6 cell line by ultracentrifugation and their effects on proliferation and expression of Bax and Bcl2 genes were assessed by DAPI and Real-time PCR in astrocytes, respectively.

Results indicated a purity of over 90% of astrocytes in cell culture medium. DAPI test after 48 hours showed a significant increase in astrocytes treated with exosome (50µg/ml) compared to the control group (p < 001). Also, the expression of Bax and Bcl2 genes in exosome-treated astrocytes showed a significant decrease and increase compared to the control group (p <0.01 and p <0.05), respectively.

Leukemia exosomes disrupt the balance of astrocyte proliferation and inhibit apoptosis in them by altering the expression of Bax and Bcl2 genes. Therefore, further studies are recommended to identify exact molecular pathways of cancer.