Project description:Healthy brain function is mediated by several complementary signalling pathways, many of which are driven by extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are heterogeneous in both size and cargo and are constitutively released from cells into the extracellular milieu. They are subsequently trafficked to recipient cells, whereupon their entry can modify the cellular phenotype. Here, in order to further analyse the mRNA and protein cargo of neuronal EVs, we isolated EVs by size exclusion chromatography from human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons. Electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering revealed that the isolated EVs had a diameter of 30-100 nm. Transcriptomic and proteomics analyses of the EVs and neurons identified key molecules enriched in the EVs involved in cell surface interaction (integrins and collagens), internalisation pathways (clathrin- and caveolin-dependent), downstream signalling pathways (phospholipases, integrin-linked kinase and MAPKs), and long-term impacts on cellular development and maintenance. Overall, we show that key signalling networks and mechanisms are enriched in EVs isolated from human iPSC-derived neurons.
Project description:Patient-derived prostate fibroblast primary cultures PCF-54 and PCF-55 were established from two specimens of PC tissues. Urinary EVs were isolated from urine samples of 3 patients with PC and 2 healthy males and used for the treatment of prostate fibroblast primary cultures and normal foreskin fibroblasts. Normoxic and hypoxic EVs were isolated from cell culture medium of PC3 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines, cultivated in normoxic and hypoxic conditions respectively. The EV-treated fibroblasts were subjected to RNA sequencing analysis.
Project description:Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are associated with aberrant gene expression and epigenetic mechanisms. In particular, de novo DNA methylation is typically linked to gene silencing, but its role in heart disease remains not fully understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are active components in cellular communication for their ability to carry a plethora of signalling biomolecules, thus representing a promising new diagnostic/therapeutic approach in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Indeed, there is the need of novel biomarkers for ACS prediction and timely detection. Purpose: We hypothesized that specific epigenetic signals can be carried by EVs. In this regard, we isolated and characterized circulating EVs from ACS patients and evaluated their potential role to influence DNA methylation in target cells. Methods: Circulating EVs were recovered, by ultracentrifugation, from plasma samples of 19 ACS patients and 50 healthy subjects (HS). Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and western blot (WB) were used to confirm the EVs integrity and purity. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of volunteer donors were treated with both ACS and HS derived EVs and genomic DNA was extracted to perform epigenome wide analysis through Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing. ShinyGO, PANTHER, and STRING tools were interrogated to perform GO and PPI network analyses. Flow Cytometry, qRT-PCR, and WB analysis were also performed to evaluate and validate both intra-vesicular and intra-cellular signals. Results: Plasma ACS-derived EVs showed a significant up-regulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) gene expression levels as compared to HS (P<0.001). Specifically, de novo methylation transcripts, as DNMT3A and DNMT3B were significantly increased in plasma ACS-EVs. DNA methylation analysis of PBMCs from volunteer donors treated with HS- and ACS-derived EVs showed that RNF166 and CCND3 genes resulted the most hyper- and hypo-methylated, respectively, after by ACS-EV treatment. In addition, PPI network analysis specifically evidenced the subnetwork with SRC, as a hub gene, connecting it to NOTCH1, FOXO3, CDC42, IKBKG, RXRA, DGKG, known as important genes already involved in the onset of CVDs. Surprising, other novel genes, BAIAP2, SYP, CHL1, and SHB, which were hypomethylated, were found significantly overexpressed in PBMCs (P<0.005), underlying the fundamental modulating properties of EV cargo in atherosclerosis. Conclusions: These findings support the significant role of ACS plasma-derived EVs, inducing de novo DNA methylation signals, and modulating specific signaling pathways in target cells.
Project description:Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by human placenta–derived mesenchymal stem cells (hpMSCs) are thought to mediate paracrine effects. To characterize their small-RNA cargo, we isolated hpMSC-derived EVs (hpEVs) from conditioned media using size-exclusion chromatography and performed miRNA sequencing.
Project description:Intercellular communication is essential in bone remodelling to ensure that new bone is formed with only temporary bone loss. Monocytes and osteoclasts actively take part in controlling bone remodelling by providing signals that promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have attracted attention as regulators of bone remodelling. EVs facilitate intercellular communication by transferring a complex cargo of biologically active molecules to target cells. In the present study, we evaluated the potency of EVs from monocytes and osteoclasts to induce a lineage-specific response in MSCs. We analysed gene expression and protein secretion by both adipose tissue-derived MSCs and bone marrow-derived MSCs after stimulation with EVs from lipopolysaccharide-activated primary human monocytes and (mineral-resorbing) osteoclasts. Isolated EVs were enriched in exosomes (EVs of endosomal origin) and were free of cell debris. Monocyte- and osteoclast-derived EVs were taken up by adipose tissue-derived MSCs. EVs from activated monocytespromoted the secretion of cytokines by MSCs, which may represent an immunomodulatory mechanism. Monocyte-derived EVs also upregulated the expression of genes encoding for matrix metalloproteinases. Therefore, we hypothesize that monocytes facilitate tissue remodelling through EV-mediated signalling. We did not observe a significant effect of osteoclast-derived EVs on gene expression or protein secretion in MSCs. EV-mediated signalling might represent an additional mode of cell-cell signalling during the transition from injury and inflammation to bone regeneration and play an important role in the coupling between bone resorption and bone formation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Project description:Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and accelerates disease progression. Obesity adversely affects the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) leading to increased secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, the crosstalk between VAT and CRC tumor cells still remains unclear. EVs are lipid-membraned particles that transfer cargo to and/or induce signaling in other cells. Here, human VAT-derived non-obese (N-OB) and obese (OB) EVs through proteomics and investigated the functional interaction between CRC cells and EVs through RNA-seq analysis of EV-treated CRC cells. EVs were isolated from VAT obtained from obese (BMI>30) and non-obese patients (BMI<30). Unbiased proteomics revealed that compared to N-OB EVs, OB EVs were enriched with glycolytic enzymes like triose phosphate isomerase (TPI1). This enrichment was associated with increased TPI1 protein levels in CRC cells and elevated glycolytic activity. OB EV-treated cells also exhibited increased stemness-associated genes, 3D-spheroid formation and Apcmin/+ tumoroid self-renewal capacity. In vivo, mice with an adipocyte-specific knockout of EV cargo sorting protein, Tsg101 (Tsg101ΔAd), have altered EV cargo composition with reduced glycolytic enzyme levels. Functionally, Tsg101ΔAd-EVs were able to protect against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced increase in glycolysis and stem-like ability. Moreover, Apcmin/+:Tsg101ΔAd mice were protected against HFD-induced enhanced tumorigenesis. Collectively, this study identifies adipocyte EVs, and its metabolic cargo, as an important regulator of CRC cell metabolism and function, promoting intestinal tumorigenesis.
Project description:With this experiment we sought to characterise the effect of Extracellular Vesicle (EV) mediated transfer of mitochondria from Neural Stem Cells (NSCs) to macrophages. Briefly, macrophages were obtained from the bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice and stimulated with 50 ng/ml LPS. Macrophages were treated with EVs derived from Neural Stem Cells for 6 hours after which RNA was extracted for microarray analysis.
Project description:In this study, EVs were extracted and purified from the culture medium of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells isolated from rats. A total of three batches of extracellular vesicles were obtained from the cell samples for the exploration of potential vital protein components in ADSCs and ADSC-EVs.
Project description:Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from three different biopsies of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-EVs) were isolated and characterized by different omic analysis. The goal was to characterized the EVs cargo to study their implication in an animal model of chronic cardiac inflammation
Project description:The idea that stem cell therapies work only via cell replacement is challenged by the observation of consistent intercellular molecule exchange between the graft and the host. Here we defined a mechanism of cellular signaling by which neural stem/precursor cells (NPCs) communicate with the microenvironment via extracellular vesicles (EVs), and we elucidated its molecular signature and function. We observed cytokine-regulated pathways that sort proteins and mRNAs into EVs. We described induction of interferon gamma (IFN-?) pathway in NPCs exposed to proinflammatory cytokines that is mirrored in EVs. We showed that IFN-? bound to EVs through Ifngr1 activates Stat1 in target cells. Finally, we demonstrated that endogenous Stat1 and Ifngr1 in target cells are indispensable to sustain the activation of Stat1 signaling by EV-associated IFN-?/Ifngr1 complexes. Our study identifies a mechanism of cellular signaling regulated by EV-associated IFN-?/Ifngr1 complexes, which grafted stem cells may use to communicate with the host immune system. polyA RNA profiling of Neural Stem/Progenitor cells (NPCs) cultured in basal/Th1/Th2 conditions, of Exosomes derived from NPCs cultured in basal/Th1/Th2 conditions and of EVs derived from NPCs cultured in Basal/Th1/Th2 conditions. Total RNA was purified using Trizol. Purity and integrity were confirmed by BioAnalyser (Agilent). Paired End library construction and poly-A selection were performed by EASIH (The Eastern Sequence and Informatics Hub, University of Cambridge, Cambridge) according to the Illumina standard protocol. Sequencing was performed by EASIH using Illumina GAII.