Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: There is an increasing appreciation for the heterogeneous nature of extracellular vesicles (EVs). In addition, two nonvesicular extracellular nanoparticles (NVEPs), exomeres and supermeres, have been discovered recently that are enriched in many cargo previously ascribed to EVs. The EV field has largely focused on EV isolation and characterization, while studies on NVEPs are limited. At this juncture, it is critically important to have robust and reliable methods to separate distinct populations of EVs and NVEPs to assign cargo to their correct carrier. Here, we provide a comprehensive step-by-step protocol for sequential isolation of large and small EVs, nonvesicular fractions, exomeres and supermeres from the same starting material. We describe in detail the use of differential ultracentrifugation, filtration, concentration and high-resolution density-gradient fractionation to obtain purified fractions of distinct populations of EVs and NVEPs. This protocol allows assignment and enrichment of a biomolecule of interest to its specific extracellular compartment. Compared to other isolation methods, our protocol has unique advantages, including high purity and reproducibility, with minimal expertise required. The protocol can be applied to purification of EVs and NVEPs from cell culture medium and human plasma and requires ~72 h to complete. Adoption of this protocol will help translational investigators identify potential circulating biomarkers and therapeutic targets for a host of human diseases and allow basic scientists to better understand EV and NVEP biogenesis and function. Overall, this protocol will allow those interested in isolating EVs and extracellular particles to advance scientific inquiry to answer outstanding questions in the field.
Source: Nature Protocols
Institutions: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Awards: G1083021982, exRNA in colorectal carcinoma: biogenesis and function, G1707656701, G2242745092, G5802704598, G671486135, G6716720793, G7226719701, Uncovering exRNA and protein determinants of secreted vesicle heterogeneity by flow cytometric purification of vesicle subsets from cells and plasma, G8938682991, Molecular and Cellular Basis for Digestive Diseases, Early to Late Events in Colorectal Neoplasia: Basic Biology to Clinical Implementation, Shaping of the Microenvironment in Colonic Pre-Cancer by Epithelia and Microbiota, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center SPORE in Gastrointestinal Cancer
OpenAlex ID: W4324044677