Exosome release by crustacean hyaline haemocytes in vitro

Exosomes are small microvesicles (40–100 nm) that are formed from the endosome to generate multi-vesicular bodies (MBVs). In mammals, exosomes play a significant role in cellular communication. Exosomes have also been reported for salmon and fruit fly but have not previously been studied in crustaceans. Therefore we undertook to study them in decapods. We chose the hyaline haemocytes of brachyuran crabs, Carcinus maenas and Hyas araneus, because these cells are abundant in haemolymph, are phagocytic and can be cultured on glass or plastic surfaces. Furthermore these cells have been observed to contain MVB-like structures that bear some resemblance to those in mammals that produce exosomes. …