Extracellular Vesicles as Biological Indicators and Potential Sources of Autologous Therapeutics in Osteoarthritis

Along with cytokines, extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by immune cells in the joint contribute to osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. By high-resolution flow cytometry, we characterized 18 surface markers and 4 proinflammatory cytokines carried by EVs of various sizes in plasma and synovial fluid (SF) from individuals with knee OA, with a primary focus on immune cells that play a major role in OA pathogenesis. By multiplex immunoassay, we also measured concentrations of cytokines within (endo) and outside (exo) EVs. EVs carrying HLA-DR, -DP and -DQ were the most enriched subpopulations in SF relative to plasma (25–50-fold higher depending on size), suggesting a major contribution to the SF EV pool from infiltrating immune cells in OA joints. In contrast, the CD34+ medium and small EVs, reflecting hematopoietic stem cells, progenitor cells, and endothelial cells, were the most significantly enriched subpopulations in plasma relative to SF (7.3- and 7.7-fold higher). Ratios of EVs derived from neutrophils and lymphocytes were highly correlated between SF and plasma, indicating that plasma EVs could reflect OA severity and serve as systemic biomarkers of OA joint pathogenesis. Select subsets of plasma EVs might also provide next generation autologous biological products for intra-articular therapy of OA joints.

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Immune cell extracellular vesicles and their mitochondrial content decline with ageing

Immunity & Ageing ◽

10.1186/s12979-019-0172-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Xin Zhang ◽

Monica Jeanne Hubal ◽

Virginia Byers Kraus

Keyword(s):

Flow Cytometry ◽

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Cell Types ◽

Specific Cell ◽

Surface Markers ◽

Multicolor Flow Cytometry ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Age Related

Abstract Background Although the mechanisms of action are not fully understood, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as key indicators and effectors of immune function. Characterizing circulating EVs associated with stem and immune cells across the lifespan of healthy individuals could aid an understanding of immunosenescence, a process of age-related decline of cells in both adaptive and innate immune systems. Results Using high resolution multicolor flow cytometry, we identified three major subsets of EVs of varying sizes in healthy control (HC) plasma. Multiple plasma EVs associated with immune cells declined with ageing in HCs. In addition, we observed age-associated declines of respiring mitochondria cargo in EVs of several types of immune cells, suggesting that these parent cells may experience a decline in mitophagy or a mitochondrial dysfunction-induced immunosenescence. By contrast, the number of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell-associated EVs were high and carried respiring mitochondria, which did not decline with age. Conclusion As demonstrated here, multicolor flow cytometry simultaneously measures plasma EV size, surface markers and cargo that reflect biological processes of specific cell types. The distinct surface markers and cytokine cargo of plasma EVs suggest that they may carry different bio-messages and originate by different biogenesis pathways.

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Excretion of urine extracellular vesicles bearing markers of activated immune cells and calcium/phosphorus physiology differ between calcium kidney stone formers and non-stone formers

BMC Nephrology ◽

10.1186/s12882-021-02417-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jiqing Zhang ◽

Sanjay Kumar ◽

Muthuvel Jayachandran ◽

Loren P. Herrera Hernandez ◽

Stanley Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urinary Excretion ◽

Calcium Oxalate ◽

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Kidney Stone ◽

Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 ◽

Pathogenic Mechanisms ◽

Phosphorus Excretion ◽

Stone Formers ◽

Calcium Phosphorus

Abstract Backgrounds: Previous studies have demonstrated that excretion of urinary extracellular vesicles (EVs) from different nephron segments differs between kidney stone formers and non-stone formers (NSFs), and could reflect pathogenic mechanisms of urinary stone disease. In this study we quantified selected populations of specific urinary EVs carrying protein markers of immune cells and calcium/phosphorus physiology in calcium oxalate stone formers (CSFs) compared to non-stone formers (NSFs). Methods Biobanked urine samples from CSFs (n = 24) undergoing stone removal surgery and age- and sex- matched NSFs (n = 21) were studied. Urinary EVs carrying proteins related to renal calcium/phosphorus physiology (phosphorus transporters (PiT1 and PiT2), Klotho, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23); markers associated with EV generation (anoctamin-4 (ANO4) and Huntington interacting protein 1 (HIP1)), and markers shed from activated immune cells were quantified by standardized and published method of digital flow cytometry. Results Urine excretion of calcium, oxalate, phosphorus, and calcium oxalate supersaturation (SS) were significantly higher in CSFs compared to NSFs (P < 0.05). Urinary excretion of EVs with markers of total leukocytes (CD45), neutrophils (CD15), macrophages (CD68), Klotho, FGF23, PiT1, PiT2, and ANO4 were each markedly lower in CSFs than NSFs (P < 0.05) whereas excretion of those with markers of monocytes (CD14), T-Lymphocytes (CD3), B-Lymphocytes (CD19), plasma cells (CD138 plus CD319 positive) were not different between the groups. Urinary excretion of EVs expressing PiT1 and PiT2 negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with urinary phosphorus excretion, whereas excretion of EVs expressing FGF23 negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with both urinary calcium and phosphorus excretion. Urinary EVs with markers of HIP1 and ANO4 correlated negatively (P < 0.05) with clinical stone events and basement membrane calcifications on papillary tip biopsies. Conclusions Urinary excretion of EVs derived from specific types of activated immune cells and EVs with proteins related to calcium/phosphorus regulation differed between CSFs and NSFs. Further validation of these and other populations of urinary EVs in larger cohort could identify biomarkers that elucidate novel pathogenic mechanisms of calcium stone formation in specific subsets of patients.

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The Role of the Bone Marrow Microenvironment in the Response to Infection

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2020.585402 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Courtney B. Johnson ◽

Jizhou Zhang ◽

Daniel Lucas

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Critical Role ◽

Primary Source ◽

Bone Marrow Microenvironment ◽

Future Research ◽

Multipotent Stem Cells ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

Hematopoiesis in the bone marrow (BM) is the primary source of immune cells. Hematopoiesis is regulated by a diverse cellular microenvironment that supports stepwise differentiation of multipotent stem cells and progenitors into mature blood cells. Blood cell production is not static and the bone marrow has evolved to sense and respond to infection by rapidly generating immune cells that are quickly released into the circulation to replenish those that are consumed in the periphery. Unfortunately, infection also has deleterious effects injuring hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), inefficient hematopoiesis, and remodeling and destruction of the microenvironment. Despite its central role in immunity, the role of the microenvironment in the response to infection has not been systematically investigated. Here we summarize the key experimental evidence demonstrating a critical role of the bone marrow microenvironment in orchestrating the bone marrow response to infection and discuss areas of future research.

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The Impact of Age and Gender on Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Immune Contexture of the Bone Marrow Microenvironment

Cells Tissues Organs ◽

10.1159/000510774 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Rebar N. Mohammed

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Bone Marrow ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Absolute Number ◽

Cell Number ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

The Absolute ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a rare population of cells that reside mainly in the bone marrow and are capable of generating and fulfilling the entire hematopoietic system upon differentiation. Thirty-six healthy donors, attending the HSCT center to donate their bone marrow, were categorized according to their age into child (0–12 years), adolescence (13–18 years), and adult (19–59 years) groups, and gender into male and female groups. Then, the absolute number of HSCs and mature immune cells in their harvested bone marrow was investigated. Here, we report that the absolute cell number can vary considerably based on the age of the healthy donor, and the number of both HSCs and immune cells declines with advancing age. The gender of the donor (male or female) did not have any impact on the number of the HSCs and immune cells in the bone marrow. In conclusion, since the number of HSCs plays a pivotal role in the clinical outcome of allogeneic HSC transplantations, identifying a younger donor regardless the gender is critical.

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Characterization of pendrin in urinary extracellular vesicles in a rat model of aldosterone excess and in human primary aldosteronism

Hypertension Research ◽

10.1038/s41440-021-00710-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fumika Ochiai-Homma ◽

Emiko Kuribayashi-Okuma ◽

Yuya Tsurutani ◽

Kenichi Ishizawa ◽

Wataru Fujii ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Rat Model ◽

Primary Aldosteronism ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Concomitant Administration ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Quantitative Changes ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

Sectional Analysis

AbstractPendrin is a Cl−/HCO3− exchanger selectively present in the intercalated cells of the kidney. Although experimental studies have demonstrated that pendrin regulates blood pressure downstream of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, its role in human hypertension remains unclear. Here, we analyzed the quantitative changes in pendrin in urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) isolated from a total of 30 patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) and from a rat model of aldosterone excess. Western blot analysis revealed that pendrin is present in dimeric and monomeric forms in uEVs in humans and rats. In a rodent model that received continuous infusion of aldosterone with or without concomitant administration of the selective mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist esaxerenone, pendrin levels in uEVs, as well as those of epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) and Na-Cl-cotransporter (NCC), were highly correlated with renal abundance. In patients with PA, pendrin levels in uEVs were reduced by 49% from baseline by adrenalectomy or pharmacological MR blockade. Correlation analysis revealed that the magnitude of pendrin reduction after treatment significantly correlated with the baseline aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR). Finally, a cross-sectional analysis of patients with PA confirmed a significant correlation between the ARR and pendrin levels in uEVs. These data are consistent with experimental studies showing the role of pendrin in aldosterone excess and suggest that pendrin abundance is attenuated by therapeutic interventions in human PA. Our study also indicates that pendrin analysis in uEVs, along with other proteins, can be useful to understand the pathophysiology of hypertensive disorders.

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Tetraspanin immunocapture phenotypes extracellular vesicles according to biofluid source but may limit identification of multiplexed cancer biomarkers

10.1101/2021.03.02.433595 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rachel R. Mizenko ◽

Terza Brostoff ◽

Tatu Rojalin ◽

Hanna J. Koster ◽

Hila S. Swindell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flow Cytometry ◽

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Fluorescence Detection ◽

Single Particle ◽

Cancer Biomarkers ◽

Surface Markers ◽

Isolation Method ◽

Standard Methods

AbstractTetraspanin expression of extracellular vesicles (EVs) is often used as a surrogate for their general detection and classification from background contaminants. This common practice typically assumes a consistent expression of tetraspanins across EV sources, thus obscuring subpopulations of variable or limited tetraspanin expression. While some recent studies indicate differential expression of tetraspanins across bulk isolated EVs, here we present analysis of single EVs isolated using various field-standard methods from a variety of in vitro and in vivo sources to identify distinct patterns in colocalization of tetraspanin expression. We report an optimized method for the use of antibodycapture single particle interferometric reflectance imaging sensing (SP-IRIS) and fluorescence detection to identify subpopulations according to tetraspanin expression and compare our findings with nanoscale flow cytometry. Using SP-IRIS and immunofluorescence, we report that tetraspanin profile is consistent from a given EV source regardless of isolation method, but that tetraspanin profiles are distinct across various sources. Tetraspanin profiles as measured by flow cytometry do not share similar trends, suggesting that limitations in subpopulation detection significantly impact apparent protein expression. We further analyzed tetraspanin expression of single EVs captured non-specifically, revealing that tetraspanin capture can bias the apparent multiplexed tetraspanin profile. Finally, we demonstrate that this bias can have significant impact on diagnostic sensitivity for tumor-associated EV surface markers. Our findings may reveal key insights into the complexities of the EV biogenesis and signaling pathways and better inform EV capture and detection platforms for diagnostic or other downstream use.

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Multiplexed Profiling of Single-cell Extracellular Vesicles Secretion

10.1101/459438 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Yahui Ji ◽

Dongyuan Qi ◽

Linmei Li ◽

Haoran Su ◽

Xiaojie Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Cell ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Single Cells ◽

Cell Communication ◽

Deep Understanding ◽

Surface Markers ◽

Cell Heterogeneity ◽

Health And Disease ◽

Cytokines Secretion

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are important intercellular mediators regulating health and disease. Conventional EVs surface marker profiling, which was based on population measurements, masked the cell-to-cell heterogeneity in the quantity and phenotypes of EVs secretion. Herein, by using spatially patterned antibodies barcode, we realized multiplexed profiling of single-cell EVs secretion from more than 1000 single cells simultaneously. Applying this platform to profile human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines led to deep understanding of previously undifferentiated single cell heterogeneity underlying EVs secretion. Notably, we observed the decrement of certain EV phenotypes (e.g. CD63+EVs) were associated with the invasive feature of both OSCC cell lines and primary OSCC cells. We also realized multiplexed detection of EVs secretion and cytokines secretion simultaneously from the same single cells to investigate multidimensional spectrum of intercellular communications, from which we resolved three functional subgroups with distinct secretion profiles by visualized clustering. In particular, we found EVs secretion and cytokines secretion were generally dominated by different cell subgroups. The technology introduced here enables comprehensive evaluation of EVs secretion heterogeneity at single cell level, which may become an indispensable tool to complement current single cell analysis and EV research.SignificanceExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell derived nano-sized particles medicating cell-cell communication and transferring biology information molecules like nucleic acids to regulate human health and disease. Conventional methods for EV surface markers profiling can’t tell the differences in the quantity and phenotypes of EVs secretion between cells. To address this need, we developed a platform for profiling an array of surface markers on EVs from large numbers of single cells, enabling more comprehensive monitoring of cellular communications. Single cell EVs secretion assay led to previously unobserved cell heterogeneity underlying EVs secretion, which might open up new avenues for studying cell communication and cell microenvironment in both basic and clinical research.

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The Power of Extracellular Vesicles in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: “Crafting” a Microenvironment That Matters

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10092316 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 2316

Author(s):

Lucia Catani ◽

Michele Cavo ◽

Francesca Palandri

Keyword(s):

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Immune Escape ◽

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms ◽

Cell Communication ◽

Bioactive Molecules ◽

Driver Genes ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Patients Experience

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) are acquired clonal disorders of the hematopoietic stem cells and include Essential Thrombocythemia, Polycythemia Vera and Myelofibrosis. MPN are characterized by mutations in three driver genes (JAK2, CALR and MPL) and by a state of chronic inflammation. Notably, MPN patients experience increased risk of thrombosis, disease progression, second neoplasia and evolution to acute leukemia. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous population of microparticles with a role in cell-cell communication. The EV-mediated cross-talk occurs via the trafficking of bioactive molecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites and lipids. Growing interest is focused on EVs and their potential impact on the regulation of blood cancers. Overall, EVs have been suggested to orchestrate the complex interplay between tumor cells and the microenvironment with a pivotal role in “education” and “crafting” of the microenvironment by regulating angiogenesis, coagulation, immune escape and drug resistance of tumors. This review is focused on the role of EVs in MPN. Specifically, we will provide an overview of recent findings on the involvement of EVs in MPN pathogenesis and discuss opportunities for their potential application as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

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Dissecting the Immune Cell Progeny of CAR-Expressing Hematopoietic Stem Cells in a Humanized Mouse Model

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-129746 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 4640-4640

Author(s):

Heng-Yi Liu ◽

Nezia Rahman ◽

Tzu-Ting Chiou ◽

Satiro N. De Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Research Funding ◽

Humanized Mice ◽

Tumor Challenge ◽

Hematopoietic Stem

Background: Chemotherapy-refractory or recurrent B-lineage leukemias and lymphomas yield less than 50% of chance of cure. Therapy with autologous T-cells expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) have led to complete remissions, but the effector cells may not persist, limiting clinical efficacy. Our hypothesis is the modification of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) with anti-CD19 CAR will lead to persistent generation of multilineage target-specific immune cells, enhancing graft-versus-cancer activity and leading to development of immunological memory. Design/Methods: We generated second-generation CD28- and 4-1BB-costimulated CD19-specific CAR constructs using third-generation lentiviral vectors for modification of human HSC for assessment in vivo in NSG mice engrafted neonatally with human CD34-positive cells. Cells were harvested from bone marrows, spleens, thymus and peripheral blood at different time points for evaluation by flow cytometry and ddPCR for vector copy numbers. Cohorts of mice received tumor challenge with subcutaneous injection of lymphoma cell lines. Results: Gene modification of HSC with CD19-specific CAR did not impair differentiation or proliferation in humanized mice, leading to CAR-expressing cell progeny in myeloid, NK and T-cells. Humanized NSG engrafted with CAR-modified HSC presented similar humanization rates to non-modified HSC, with multilineage CAR-expressing cells present in all tissues with stable levels up to 44 weeks post-transplant. No animals engrafted with CAR-modified HSC presented autoimmunity or inflammation. T-cell populations were identified at higher rates in humanized mice with CAR-modified HSC in comparison to mice engrafted with non-modified HSC. CAR-modified HSC led to development of T-cell effector memory and T-cell central memory phenotypes, confirming the development of long-lasting phenotypes due to directed antigen specificity. Mice engrafted with CAR-modified HSC successfully presented tumor growth inhibition and survival advantage at tumor challenge with lymphoma cell lines, with no difference between both constructs (62.5% survival for CD28-costimulated CAR and 66.6% for 41BB-costimulated CAR). In mice sacrificed due to tumor development, survival post-tumor injection was directly correlated with tumor infiltration by CAR T-cells. Conclusions: CAR modification of human HSC for cancer immunotherapy is feasible and continuously generates CAR-bearing cells in multiple lineages of immune cells. Targeting of different malignancies can be achieved by adjusting target specificity, and this approach can augment the anti-lymphoma activity in autologous HSC recipients. It bears decreased morbidity and mortality and offers alternative therapeutic approach for patients with no available sources for allogeneic transplantation, benefiting ethnic minorities. Disclosures De Oliveira: National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust and University College London: Research Funding; NIAID, NHI: Research Funding; Medical Research Council: Research Funding; CIRM: Research Funding; National Gene Vector Repository: Research Funding.

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