Characterization of exosome-like vesicles released from human tracheobronchial ciliated epithelium: a possible role in innate defense.

ABSTRACT: Airway mucus forms the structural basis of the local innate immune defense mechanism. It is an integrated, active, viscoelastic gel matrix evolved to protect the exposed lung from physical, chemical, and pathological erosion. Exosomes are biologically active vesicles secreted by different cell types including epithelial, hematopoietic, and some tumor cells. They are also present in some biological fluids such as serum, urine, breast milk, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that exosome-like vesicles with antiviral properties are present in human tracheobronchial epithelial (HTBE) cell culture secretions. These vesicles have been isolated by differential centrifugation and are characterized further by mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, immunob

SUBMITTER: Kesimer M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2698655 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature