Quantification of urinary podocyte‐derived migrasomes for the diagnosis of kidney disease

Abstract

Migrasomes represent a recently uncovered category of extracellular microvesicles, spanning a diameter range of 500 to 3000 nm. They are emitted by migrating cells and harbour a diverse array of RNAs and proteins. Migrasomes can be readily identified in bodily fluids like serum and urine, rendering them a valuable non‐invasive source for disease diagnosis through liquid biopsy. In this investigation, we introduce a streamlined and effective approach for the capture and quantitative assessment of migrasomes, employing wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)‐coated magnetic beads and flow cytometry (referred to as WBFC). Subsequently, we examined the levels of migrasomes in the urine of kidney disease (KD) patients with podocyte injury and healthy volunteers using WBFC. The outcomes unveiled a substantial increase in urinary podocyte‐derived migrasome concentrations among individuals with KD with podocyte injury compared to the healthy counterparts. Notably, the urinary podocyte‐derived migrasomes were found to express an abundant quantity of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) proteins. The presence of PLA2R proteins in these migrasomes holds promise for serving as a natural antigen for the quantification of autoantibodies against PLA2R in the serum of patients afflicted by membranous nephropathy. Consequently, our study not only pioneers a novel technique for the isolation and quantification of migrasomes but also underscores the potential of urinary migrasomes as a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of KD with podocyte injury.

ECM1 and ANXA1 in urinary extracellular vesicles serve as biomarkers for breast cancer

“…WGA is an example of such lectins ( 25 ). We previous introduced an innovative, user-friendly and highly efficient technique for the capture and quantitative analysis of EVs by leveraging WGA-coupled magnetic beads in conjunction with flow cytometry ( 19 ). In order to further simplify the operation process and cost, we developed a novel platform for uEVs capture and detection by WGA-coupled magnetic beads and CLIA ( Supplementary Figure S1 ).…”

“…Recent studies have identified differentially expressed proteins and RNAs in the uEVs of breast cancer patients ( 14 – 18 ). In our previous study, we introduced an innovative, user-friendly and highly efficient technique for the capture and quantitative analysis of EVs by leveraging wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-coupled magnetic beads in conjunction with flow cytometry ( 19 ).…”