Project description:Osteoblasts are the only somatic cell type with bone-forming ability. While the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying their differentiation and function have been identified, their dynamic control in vivo is unclear. By intravital multiphoton microscopy of live bone tissues of osteoblast fluorescent reporter mice, we visualized intact mature osteoblasts in vivo and found that they actively secrete and capture extracellular microvesicles. Microvesicles from mature osteoblasts contain the microRNA miR-143-3p, which inhibits osteoblast differentiation. Osteoblast-specific deletion of miR-143 increased bone formation and miR-143-deficient microvesicles induced recovery from bone defect. In sum, we report a novel mode of intercellular communication in vivo via microRNA-containing extracellular vesicles, which controls bone homeostasis.
Project description:In the social amoebae (Dictyostelia) quorum sensing system mediates aggregation of single cells into multicellular aggregates by chemotactic movement towards gradients of diffusible molecules known as acrasins. The acrasin of P. violaceum is the unusual dipeptide N-propionyl-gamma-L-glutamyl-L-ornithine-delta-lactam-ethylester, known as glorin. Phylogenetic analysis has indicated that P. violaceum is more related to the most derived group 4 dictyostelids than to the ancient group 2 polysphondylids such as P. pallidum. Nevertheless it has been reported that P. pallidum cells respond to glorin in chemotaxis assays. This has led to the assumption that glorin-based communication may be the most ancient form of intercellular communication that Dictyostelia invented to organize early steps of multicellular development. In this study we show that glorin mediates rapid changes in gene expression at the transition from vegetative growth to aggregation, apparently without pronounced cross-talk with the cyclic AMP-based communication system that coordinates post-aggregation events in this species. We describe glorin-mediated changes in gene expression in the social amoeba Polysphondylium pallidum at the transition from unicellular growth to multicellular development. Comparison of gene expression in growing cells versus cells starving for 2 or 3 hours in the presence or absence of glorin.
Project description:The transparency of lens relies on proper intercellular communication. Exosomes are crucial mediators of intercellular communication and play a key role in organ homeostasis and development. However, their presence and dynamics in the lens remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the existence of endogenous exosomes in the lens and explore their potential functions. Using the cryaa promoter to drive Cd63-AcGFP expression, we achieved lens-specific exosome labeling in zebrafish. Live imaging revealed the presence of exosomes in lens cells during development and their movement trajectory under physiological conditions. Additionally, lens-derived exosomes (lens-Exos) facilitate communication not only between lens cells but also with surrounding tissues. We also identified that the biogenesis of Cd63+ exosomes in the lens is regulated by the Syntenin-a pathway. As knockdown of Syntenin-a in zebrafish resulted in delayed lens development, indicating a potential role for exosomes in normal lens development. Furthermore, in vitro hESC-lentoid induction showed that extracellular vesicles from ROR1+ lens progenitor cells (ROR1+ LPCs-EVs) promote lentoid differentiation. Proteomic analysis provided insights into the functions of ROR1+ LPCs-EVs. Overall, our study is the first to observe endogenous exosomes in the lens, providing new insights into lens pathophysiology and a potential strategy for modulating the lens microenvironment.
Project description:Microvesicles (MV) are small membrane-bound particles comprised of exosomes and various sized extracellular vesicles. These are released by a number of cell types. Microvesicles have a variety of cellular functions from communication to mediating growth and differentiation. Microvesicles contain proteins and nucleic acids. Previously, we showed that plasma microvesicles contain microRNAs (miRNAs). Based on our previous report, the majority of peripheral blood microvesicles are derived from platelets while mononuclear phagocytes, including macrophages, are the second most abundant population. Here, we characterized macrophage-derived microvesicles and whether they influenced the differentiation of naïve monocytes. We also identified the miRNA content of the macrophage-derived microvesicles. We found that RNA molecules contained in the macrophage-derived microvesicles were transported to target cells, including monocytes, endothelial cells, epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Furthermore, we found that miR-223 was transported to target cells and was functionally active. Based on our observations, we hypothesize that microvesicles bind to and activate target cells. Furthermore, we find that microvesicles induce the differentiation of macrophages. Thus, defining key components of this response may identify novel targets to regulate host defense and inflammation. We used GeneChip microarrays to examine changes in gene expression induced by MV in primary monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) and in THP1 cells, and compare this to cells treated with GM-CSF and PMA, respectively.
Project description:There is a rapidly growing body of evidence that production of microvesicles (MVs) is a universal feature of cellular life. MVs can incorporate microRNA (miRNA), mRNA, mtDNA, DNA and retrotransposons, camouflage viruses/viral components from immune surveillance, and transfer cargo between cells. These properties make MVs an essential player in intercellular communication. Increasing evidence supports the notion that MVs can also act as long-distance vehicles for RNA molecules and participate in metabolic synchronization and reprogramming eukaryotic cells including stem and germinal cells. MV ability to carry on DNA and their general distribution makes them attractive candidates for horizontal gene transfer, particularly between multi-cellular organisms and their parasites; this suggests important implications for the co-evolution of parasites and their hosts. In this review, we provide current understanding of the roles played by MVs in intracellular pathogens and parasitic infections. We also discuss the possible role of MVs in co-infection and host shifting.