Urinary extracellular microvesicles: Isolation methods and prospects for urinary proteome

Abstract

Extracellular microvesicles (EVs) are membranous vesicles, which are released from diverse cells. These EVs have also been found in a wide range of body fluids. The cargo of EVs, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids, can be stably preserved in EVs. Researchers have found that EVs can mediate intercellular communication by shuttling the cargo components. Therefore, EVs can be used for the identification of disease-specific biomarkers. As one class of EVs, urinary exosomes can reflect the status of the renal system. Moreover, urinary exosome analysis can minimize the interference of high abundant proteins in the whole urine sample. Therefore, urinary exosomes have gained much attention in recent years. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of urinary exosome studies in recent years, including collection, storage, and isolation methods. The normal and disease proteomic analyses of urinary exosomes are also presented. Thus, this review may provide a valuable reference for future research.

Versatile roles of extracellular vesicles in cancer

“…However, the identification and quantification of EV-associated proteins, compared with EV miRNAs, in body fluids remain major challenges because EV proteins are highly heterogeneous and are difficult to collect and handle (80)(81)(82). Additionally, the methods used for EV isolation in a research setting are unsuitable for clinical practice due to their lack of reliability.…”

Endotoxin Effects on Cardiac and Renal Functions and Cardiorenal Syndromes

“…EVs are released by different types of activated cells and may be internalized in target cells modulating their behavior: EV biological activities are mainly mediated by the transfer of genetic material to target cells [57]. In fact, EVs enclose a specific subset of common proteins related to biogenesis and trafficking, as well as precise and specific components derived from their origin cell or tissue [58,59], such as proteins and nucleic acids [60,61,62]. Consequently, the specific analysis of the proteome and the nucleic acid present in EVs may offer information about the cell or tissue of origin and, especially, their physiological condition.…”

Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms Involved in the Pathogenesis of Cardiorenal Cross Talk

“…Therefore, the study of the proteome and the nucleic acid content of EVs may provide information about the cell or tissue of origin and, importantly, their physiological state. Three public online databases including all gathered information about EV content are available: EVpedia, ExoCarta and Vesiclepedia [103,104,105,106]. Exosomes are vesicles 30-150 nm in diameter derived from inward budding of endosomal membranes, resulting in the progressive accumulation of intraluminal vesicles within large multivesicular compartments.…”

“…In fact, three main populations of EVs have been identified, according to their intracellular origin and dimension [97,98]. EVs contain a specific subset of common proteins related to biogenesis and trafficking, as well as specific components derived from their cell or tissue of origin [99,100], such as proteins and nucleic acids [101,102,103]. Therefore, the study of the proteome and the nucleic acid content of EVs may provide information about the cell or tissue of origin and, importantly, their physiological state.…”