Search results for "Microvesicle"

Use of Stem Cell Extracellular Vesicles as a “Holistic” Approach to CNS Repair

2020

Neurodegeneration is a hallmark of many diseases and disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). High levels of neuroinflammation are often associated with irreparable damage to CNS cells due to the dysregulation of signaling cascades that are unable to restore a homeostatic balance. Due to the inherent complexity of the CNS, development of CNS-related therapeutics has met limited success. While stem cell therapy has been evaluated in the context of CNS repair, the mechanisms responsible for their functional properties have not been clearly defined. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of stem cell extracellular vesicles (EVs) for the treatment of various CNS patho…

Exosome-Mediated Signaling in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Tumor Progression

2018

Growing evidence points to exosomes as key mediators of cell–cell communication, by transferring their specific cargo (e.g., proteins, lipids, DNA and RNA molecules) from producing to receiving cells. In cancer, the regulation of the exosome-mediated intercellular communication may be reshaped, inducing relevant changes in gene expression of recipient cells in addition to microenvironment alterations. Notably, exosomes may deliver signals able to induce the transdifferentiation process known as Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). In this review, we summarize recent findings on the role of exosomes in tumor progression and EMT, highlighting current knowledge on exosome-mediated inter…

Exosomes as mediators of neuron-glia communication in neuroinflammation

2019

In recent years, a type of extracellular vesicles named exosomes has emerged that play an important role in intercellular communication under physiological and pathological conditions. These nanovesicles (30–150 nm) contain proteins, RNAs and lipids, and their internalization by bystander cells could alter their normal functions. This review focuses on recent knowledge about exosomes as messengers of neuron-glia communication and their participation in the physiological and pathological functions in the central nervous system. Special emphasis is placed on the role of exosomes under toxic or pathological stimuli within the brain, in which the glial exosomes containing inflammatory molecules…

Identification and Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles and Its DNA Cargo Secreted During Murine Embryo Development

2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to transport DNA, but their implications in embryonic implantation are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate EVs production and secretion by preimplantation embryos and assess their DNA cargo. Murine oocytes and embryos were obtained from six- to eight-week-old females, cultured until E4.5 and analyzed using transmission electron microscopy to examine EVs production. EVs were isolated from E4.5-day conditioned media and quantified by nanoparticle tracking analysis, characterized by immunogold, and their DNA cargo sequenced. Multivesicular bodies were observed in murine oocytes and preimplantation embryos together with the secretion of EVs t…

Exosomal HSP60: a potentially useful biomarker for diagnosis, assessing prognosis, and monitoring response to treatment.

2017

Introduction: Cell-to-cell communication is imperative for life and it is mediated by sending and receiving information via the secretion and subsequent receptor-mediated detection of biological molecules. Exosomes (EXs) secreted from cells to the extracellular environment play an important role in intercellular communication in normal and pathological conditions. Areas covered: New evidence indicates that tumor cells-derived EXs contribute to cancer progression through the modulation of tumor microenvironment. The exosomal heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) is very likely a key player in intercellular cross-talk, particularly during the progress of diseases, such as cancer. Many studies have fo…

Exosomes as delivery vehicles: a commentary on "Amoxicillin haptenates intracellular proteins that can be transported in exosomes to target cells".

2017

Exosomes are lipoproteic nanosize vesicles of endocytic origin that are released in the extracellular space by several cell types when a multivesicular body fuses with the plasma membrane (1). To date, accumulating evidences highlight the potential of exosomes as messenger in intercellular communication. Indeed, several studies reported the presence of lipids, proteins, metabolites and nucleic acid (DNA, mRNA, microRNA, lncRNA) in exosomes and highlight their functional role in physiological and pathological processes (2).

2013

Reciprocal interactions between neurons and oligodendrocytes are not only crucial for myelination, but also for long-term survival of axons. Degeneration of axons occurs in several human myelin diseases, however the molecular mechanisms of axon-glia communication maintaining axon integrity are poorly understood. Here, we describe the signal-mediated transfer of exosomes from oligodendrocytes to neurons. These endosome-derived vesicles are secreted by oligodendrocytes and carry specific protein and RNA cargo. We show that activity-dependent release of the neurotransmitter glutamate triggers oligodendroglial exosome secretion mediated by Ca2+ entry through oligodendroglial NMDA and AMPA recep…

Exosome levels in human body fluids: A tumor marker by themselves?

2016

Despite considerable research efforts, the finding of reliable tumor biomarkers remains challenging and unresolved. In recent years a novel diagnostic biomedical tool with high potential has been identified in extracellular nanovesicles or exosomes. They are released by the majority of the cells and contain detailed molecular information on the cell of origin including tumor hallmarks. Exosomes can be isolated from easy accessible body fluids, and most importantly, they can provide several biomarkers, with different levels of specificity. Recent clinical evidence shows that the levels of exosomes released into body fluids may themselves represent a predictive/diagnostic of tumors, discrimin…

A 3D‑scaffold of PLLA induces the morphological differentiation and migration of primary astrocytes and promotes the production of extracellular vesi…

2019

The present study analyzed the ability of primary rat astrocytes to colonize a porous scaffold, mimicking the reticular structure of the brain parenchyma extracellular matrix, as well as their ability to grow, survive and differentiate on the scaffold. Scaffolds were prepared using poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) via thermally-induced phase separation. Firstly, the present study studied the effects of scaffold morphology on the growth of astrocytes, evaluating their capability to colonize. Specifically, two different morphologies were tested, which were obtained by changing the polymer concentration in the starting solution. The structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and a…

Inflammatory capacity of exosomes released in the early stages of acute pancreatitis predicts the severity of the disease

2021

As acute pancreatitis progresses to the severe form, a life-threatening systemic inflammation is triggered. Although the mechanisms involved in this process are not yet well understood, it has been proposed that circulating exosomes may be involved in the progression of inflammation from the pancreas to distant organs. Here, the inflammatory capacity and protein profile of plasma exosomes obtained during the first 24 h of hospitalization of patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis were characterized and compared with the final severity of the disease. We found that the final severity of the disease strongly correlates with the inflammatory capacity of exosomes in the early stages of acute…