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In This Article

  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Protocol
  • Representative Results
  • Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Materials
  • References
  • Reprints and Permissions

Summary

The protocol here demonstrates that extracellular vesicles can be adequately separated from conditioned cell culture media using size exclusion chromatography.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized lipid-membrane bound structures that are released from all cells, are present in all biofluids, and contain proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids that are reflective of the parent cell from which they are derived. Proper separation of EVs from other components in a sample allows for characterization of their associated cargo and lends insight into their potential as intercellular communicators and non-invasive biomarkers for numerous diseases. In the current study, oligodendrocyte derived EVs were isolated from cell culture media using a combination of state-of-the-art techniques, including ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to separate EVs from other extracellular proteins and protein complexes. Using commercially available SEC columns, EVs were separated from extracellular proteins released from human oligodendroglioma cells under both control and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress conditions. The canonical EV markers CD9, CD63, and CD81 were observed in fractions 1-4, but not in fractions 5-8. GM130, a protein of the Golgi apparatus, and calnexin, an integral protein of the ER, were used as negative EV markers, and were not observed in any fraction. Further, when pooling and concentrating fractions 1-4 as the EV fraction, and fractions 5-8 as the protein fraction, expression of CD63, CD81, and CD9 in the EV fraction was observed. The expression of GM130 or calnexin was not observed in either of the fraction types. The pooled fractions from both control and ER stress conditions were visualized with transmission electron microscopy and vesicles were observed in the EV fractions, but not in the protein fractions. Particles in the EV and protein fractions from both conditions were also quantified with nanoparticle tracking analysis. Together, these data demonstrate that SEC is an effective method for separating EVs from conditioned cell culture media.

Introduction

The explosion of interest in studying extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been accompanied by major advancements in the technologies and techniques used to separate and study these nano-sized, heterogeneous particles. In the time since their discovery nearly four decades ago1,2, these small membranous structures have been found to contain bioactive lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins, and play major roles in intercellular communication3,4. EVs are released from all cell types and are therefore present in all biological fluids, including blood plasma and s....

Protocol

1. Preparation of buffers and reagents

NOTE: Make cell culture reagents in cell culture hood to maintain sterility.

  1. Preparation of cell culture reagents
    1. Prepare normal high glucose DMEM by adding 50 mL of FBS and 5 mL of penicillin-streptococcus (Pen-Strep) into 500 mL of high glucose DMEM and store at 4 °C. Use this media for culturing and expanding cells.
    2. Prepare exosome-depleted high glucose DMEM by adding 50 mL of exosome-deplet.......

Representative Results

Western blotting reveals adequate separation of EVs from CCM
To evaluate the effectiveness of SEC for separating EVs from cell culture media, a western blot was run using each individual fraction from the control samples to probe expression of the three canonical EV markers, CD9, CD63 and CD81, as well as GM130 and calnexin18, which were used as negative controls (Figure 3). Albumin expression18 was also probed to ensure .......

Discussion

SEC is a user-friendly method for adequately separating EVs from conditioned CCM. In order to specifically isolate cell derived EVs, careful consideration of the type of CCM and its supplements must be taken into account. Many cell culture medias need to be supplemented with FBS, which contains EVs derived from the animal in which the serum was harvested. These serum EVs may saturate and mask any signal produced by EVs derived from cells in culture26. Therefore, when performing experiments, EV-dep.......

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Penn State Behrend and the Hamot Health Foundation for funding, as well as the Penn State Microscopy Facility in University Park, PA.

....

Materials

NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
2-MercaptoethanolVWR97064-588
4X Laemmli Sample BufferBioRad1610747
Amicon Ultra-15 Centrifugal Filter Unit, Ultracel, 3 KDa, 15mLSigma-AldrichUFC9003083 kDa cutoff
Amicon Ultra-2 Centrifugal Filter Unit with Ultracel-3 membraneSigma-AldrichUFC2003243 kDa cutoff
Ammonium PersulfateSigma-AldrichA3678-100G
Anti rabbit IgG, HRP linked AntibodyCell Signaling Technology7074V1:1000 Dilution
Anti-Calnexin antibodyAbcam ab225951:500 Dilution
Anti-CD9 Mouse Monoclonal AntibodyBioLegend3121021:500 Dilution
Anti-GM130 antibody [EP892Y] - cis-Golgi MarkerAbcamab526491:500 Dilution
Anti-mouse IgG, HRP-linked AntibodyCell Signaling Technology7076V1:1000 Dilution
Automatic Fraction CollectorIzon Science
BCA assay KitBio-Rad
CCD cameraGatan Orius SC200
Cd63 Mouse anti HumanBD5560191:1000 Dilution
CD81 AntibodySanta Cruz Biotechnologysc-239621:1000 Dilution
Cellstar Filter Cap Cell Culture FlasksGreiner Bio-One660175
ChemiDoc MP ImagerBioRad
Clarity Western ECL SubstrateBioRad1705061
deoxycholateSigma-AldrichD6750-10G
dithiothreitolSigma3483-12-3
DMEM/High glucose with L-glutamine; without sodiumCytivaSH300022.FS
Fetal Bovine Serum Premium gradeVWR97068-085
Fetal Bovine Serum, exosome-depletedThermo ScientificA2720801
GlycineBioRad1610718
Great Value Nonfat Dry MilkAmazonB076NRD2TZ
HOG Human Oligodendroglioma Cell LineSigma-AldrichSCC163
Izon Science Usa Ltd qev Size Exclusion Columns 5pkIzon Science
Methanol >99.8% ACSVWRBDH1135-4LP
Mini-PROTEAN Glass platesBioRad1653310with 0.75mm spacers
Mini-PROTEAN Short platesBioRad1653308
NP-40Sigma-Aldrich492016
Penicillin-Streptomycin,SolutionSigma-AldrichP4458-100mL
Phosphate Buffered Saline PBSFisher ScientificBP66150
Pierce BCA Protein Assay Kits and ReagentsThermo Fisher Scientific23227
Pierce PVDF Transfer MembranesThermo Scientific88518
Pierce Western Blotting Filter PaperThermo Scientific84783
Polyoxyethylene-20 (TWEEN 20), 500mLBio BasicTB0560
Protease/phosphatase Inhibitor Cocktail (100X)Cell Signaling Technology5872S
Recombinant Anti-TSG101 antibody [EPR7130(B)]ABCamab1250111:1000 dilution
Slodium hydroxideSigma-AldrichSX0603
Sodium azideFisher ScientificBP922I-500
Sodium ChlorideSigma-AldrichS9888-500G
Sodium dodecyl sulfate,≥99.0% (GC), dust-free pelletsSigma-Aldrich75746-1KG
TetramethylethylenediamineSigma-AldrichT9281-25ML
TGX Stain-Free FastCast Acrylamide Kit, 10%BioRad1610183
Transmission Electron MicroscopeFEI Tecnai 12 Biotwin
TrisBioRad1610716
Trypsin 0.25% protease with porcine trypsin, HBSS, EDTA; without calcium, magnesiumCytivaSH30042.01
TunicamycinTocris3516
Zeta View softwareAnalytikNTA software

References

  1. Pan, B. T., Teng, K., Wu, C., Adam, M., Johnstone, R. M. Electron microscopic evidence for externalization of the transferrin receptor in vesicular form in sheep reticulocytes. The Journal of Cell Biology. 101 (3), 942-948 (1985).
  2. Harding, C., Heuser, J., Stahl, P.

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