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Seltenrich N. Channels of Communication: Extracellular Vesicles in Environmental Stress and Human Disease. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:14002. [PMID: 38271057 PMCID: PMC10810299 DOI: 10.1289/ehp14224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles offer great promise for revealing mechanisms and serving as biomarkers in studies of exposure effects on neurological, respiratory, reproductive, and other physiological systems-and they require only a simple blood draw.
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Vitucci EC, Carberry CK, Payton A, Herring LE, Mordant AL, McCullough SD, Rager JE. Characterizing the extracellular vesicle proteomic landscape of the human airway using in vitro organotypic multi-cellular models. iScience 2023; 26:108162. [PMID: 37920665 PMCID: PMC10618692 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated intercellular communication significantly influences pulmonary cell health and disease, yet in vitro methods to investigate these mechanisms are limited. We hypothesize that organotypic models of the airway can be leveraged to investigate EV-mediated intercellular signaling, focusing on EV proteomic content as a case study. Two in vitro airway culture models were evaluated by mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis: a tri-culture model consisting of alveolar epithelial, fibroblast, and lung microvascular endothelial cells and a co-culture model of alveolar epithelial and fibroblasts. EVs isolated from the tri-culture model were enriched with EV proteins regulating RNA-to-protein translation. EVs isolated from the co-culture model were enriched with EV biogenesis and extracellular matrix signaling proteins. These model-specific differences suggest that different pulmonary cell types uniquely affect EV composition and the biological pathways influenced by the EV proteome in recipient cells. These findings can inform future studies surrounding EV-related pulmonary disease pathogenesis and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C.M. Vitucci
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Celeste K. Carberry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alexis Payton
- The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Laura E. Herring
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Angie L. Mordant
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Shaun D. McCullough
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Exposure and Protection, RTI International, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Julia E. Rager
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Carberry CK, Bangma J, Koval L, Keshava D, Hartwell HJ, Sokolsky M, Fry RC, Rager JE. Extracellular Vesicles altered by a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Mixture: In Vitro Dose-Dependent Release, Chemical Content, and MicroRNA Signatures involved in Liver Health. Toxicol Sci 2023; 197:kfad108. [PMID: 37851381 PMCID: PMC10823775 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have emerged as high priority contaminants due to their ubiquity and pervasiveness in the environment. Numerous PFAS co-occur across sources of drinking water, including areas of North Carolina (NC) with some detected concentrations above the Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory levels. While evidence demonstrates PFAS exposure induces harmful effects in the liver, the involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as potential mediators of these effects has yet to be evaluated. This study set out to evaluate the hypothesis that PFAS mixtures induce dose-dependent release of EVs from liver cells, with exposures causing differential loading of microRNAs (miRNAs) and PFAS chemical signatures. To test this hypothesis, a defined PFAS mixture was prioritized utilizing data collected by the NC PFAS Testing Network. This mixture contained three substances, PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxA, selected based upon co-occurrence patterns and the inclusion of both short-chain (PFHxA) and long-chain (PFOA and PFOS) substances. HepG2 liver cells were exposed to equimolar PFAS, and secreted EVs were isolated from conditioned media and characterized for count and molecular content. Exposures induced a dose-dependent release of EVs carrying miRNAs that were differentially loaded upon exposure. These altered miRNA signatures were predicted to target mRNA pathways involved in hepatic fibrosis and cancer. Chemical concentrations of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxA were also detected in both parent HepG2 cells and their released EVs, specifically within a 15-fold range after normalizing for protein content. This study therefore established EVs as novel biological responders and measurable endpoints for evaluating PFAS-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste K Carberry
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jacqueline Bangma
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Lauren Koval
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Deepak Keshava
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hadley J Hartwell
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marina Sokolsky
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- School of Medicine, Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- School of Medicine, Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Kalia V, Baccarelli AA, Happel C, Hollander JA, Jukic AM, McAllister KA, Menon R, Merrick BA, Milosavljevic A, Ravichandran LV, Roth ME, Subramanian A, Tyson FL, Worth L, Shaughnessy DT. Seminar: Extracellular Vesicles as Mediators of Environmental Stress in Human Disease. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:104201. [PMID: 37861803 PMCID: PMC10588739 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extracellular vesicles (EVs), membrane-bound particles containing a variety of RNA types, DNA, proteins, and other macromolecules, are now appreciated as an important means of communication between cells and tissues, both in normal cellular physiology and as a potential indicator of cellular stress, environmental exposures, and early disease pathogenesis. Extracellular signaling through EVs is a growing field of research for understanding fundamental mechanisms of health and disease and for the potential for biomarker discovery and therapy development. EVs are also known to play important roles in mediating the effects of exposure to environmental stress. OBJECTIVES This seminar addresses the application of new tools and approaches for EV research, developed in part through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Extracellular RNA Communication Program, and reflects presentations and discussions from a workshop held 27-28 September 2021 by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) on "Extracellular Vesicles, Exosomes, and Cell-Cell Signaling in Response to Environmental Stress." The panel of experts discussed current research on EVs and environmental exposures, highlighted recent advances in EV isolation and characterization, and considered research gaps and opportunities toward identifying and characterizing the roles for EVs in environmentally related diseases, as well as the current challenges and opportunities in this field. DISCUSSION The authors discuss the application of new experimental models, particularly organ-on-chip (OOC) systems and in vitro approaches and how these have the potential to extend findings in population-based studies of EVs in exposure-related diseases. Given the complex challenges of identifying cell-specific EVs related to environmental exposures, as well as the general heterogeneity and variability in EVs in blood and other accessible biological samples, there is a critical need for rigorous reporting of experimental methods and validation studies. The authors note that these efforts, combined with cross-disciplinary approaches, would ensure that future research efforts in environmental health studies on EV biomarkers are rigorous and reproducible. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12980.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vrinda Kalia
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea A. Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christine Happel
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan A. Hollander
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anne Marie Jukic
- Division of Intramural Research, NIEHS, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kimberly A. McAllister
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Bruce A. Merrick
- Division of Translational Toxicology, NIEHS, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Lingamanaidu V. Ravichandran
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew E. Roth
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anita Subramanian
- Division of Intramural Research, NIEHS, NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Frederick L. Tyson
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Leroy Worth
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel T. Shaughnessy
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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Palanisamy CP, Pei J, Alugoju P, Anthikapalli NVA, Jayaraman S, Veeraraghavan VP, Gopathy S, Roy JR, Janaki CS, Thalamati D, Mironescu M, Luo Q, Miao Y, Chai Y, Long Q. New strategies of neurodegenerative disease treatment with extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Theranostics 2023; 13:4138-4165. [PMID: 37554286 PMCID: PMC10405853 DOI: 10.7150/thno.83066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons and intricate interactions between different cell types within the affected regions. Reliable biomarkers that can accurately reflect disease activity, diagnose, and monitor the progression of neurodegenerative diseases are crucial for the development of effective therapies. However, identifying suitable biomarkers has been challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of these diseases, affecting specific subsets of neurons in different brain regions. One promising approach for promoting brain regeneration and recovery involves the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs have demonstrated the ability to modulate the immune system, promote neurite outgrowth, stimulate angiogenesis, and repair damaged tissues, partially through the release of their extracellular vesicles (EVs). MSC-derived EVs retain some of the therapeutic characteristics of their parent MSCs, including their ability to regulate neurite outgrowth, promote angiogenesis, and facilitate tissue repair. This review aims to explore the potential of MSC-derived EVs as an emerging therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting their role in modulating disease progression and promoting neuronal recovery. By elucidating the mechanisms by which MSC-derived EVs exert their therapeutic effects, we can advance our understanding and leverage their potential for the development of novel treatment approaches in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chella Perumal Palanisamy
- Mini-invasive Neurosurgery and Translational Medical Center, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 161, West 5th Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710003, PR China
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, India
| | - JinJin Pei
- Qinba State Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Ecological Environment, 2011 QinLing-Bashan Mountains Bioresources Comprehensive Development C. I. C, Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources, College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723001, China
| | - Phaniendra Alugoju
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | | | - Selvaraj Jayaraman
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, India
| | - Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, India
| | - Sridevi Gopathy
- Department of Physiology, SRM Dental College, Ramapuram campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600089, India
| | - Jeane Rebecca Roy
- Department of Anatomy, Bhaarath Medical College and hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600073, India
| | - Coimbatore Sadagopan Janaki
- Department of Anatomy, Bhaarath Medical College and hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600073, India
| | | | - Monica Mironescu
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Food Industry and Environmental Protection, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Bv. Victoriei 10, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
| | - Qiang Luo
- Mini-invasive Neurosurgery and Translational Medical Center, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 161, West 5th Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710003, PR China
| | - Yu Miao
- Mini-invasive Neurosurgery and Translational Medical Center, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 161, West 5th Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710003, PR China
| | - Yuan Chai
- Mini-invasive Neurosurgery and Translational Medical Center, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 161, West 5th Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710003, PR China
| | - Qianfa Long
- Mini-invasive Neurosurgery and Translational Medical Center, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 161, West 5th Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710003, PR China
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Palacio PL, Pleet ML, Reátegui E, Magaña SM. Emerging role of extracellular vesicles in multiple sclerosis: From cellular surrogates to pathogenic mediators and beyond. J Neuroimmunol 2023; 377:578064. [PMID: 36934525 PMCID: PMC10124134 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) driven by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. While the therapeutic arsenal has expanded significantly for management of relapsing forms of MS, treatment of individuals with progressive MS is suboptimal. This treatment inequality is in part due to an incomplete understanding of pathomechanisms at different stages of the disease-underscoring the critical need for new biomarkers. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their bioactive cargo have emerged as endogenous nanoparticles with great theranostic potential-as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and ultimately as therapeutic candidates for precision nanotherapeutics. The goals of this review are to: 1) summarize the current data investigating the role of EVs and their bioactive cargo in MS pathogenesis, 2) provide a high level overview of advances and challenges in EV isolation and characterization for translational studies, and 3) conclude with future perspectives on this evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Loreto Palacio
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Michelle L Pleet
- Viral Immunology Section, Neuroimmunology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eduardo Reátegui
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Setty M Magaña
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Carberry CK, Rager JE. The impact of environmental contaminants on extracellular vesicles and their key molecular regulators: A literature and database-driven review. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2023; 64:50-66. [PMID: 36502378 PMCID: PMC10798145 DOI: 10.1002/em.22522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental chemicals is now well recognized as a significant factor contributing to the global burden of disease; however, there remain critical gaps in understanding the types of biological mechanisms that link environmental chemicals to adverse health outcomes. One type of mechanism that remains understudied involves extracellular vesicles (EVs), representing small cell-derived particles capable of carrying molecular signals such as RNAs, miRNAs, proteins, lipids, and chemicals through biological fluids and imparting beneficial, neutral, or negative effects on target cells. In fact, evidence is just now starting to grow that supports the role of EVs in various disease etiologies. This review aims to (1) Provide a landscape of the current understanding of the functional relationship between EVs and environmental chemicals; (2) Summarize current knowledge of EV regulatory processes including production, packaging, and release; and (3) Conduct a database-driven analysis of known chemical-gene interactions to predict and prioritize environmentally relevant chemicals that may impact EV regulatory genes and thus EV regulatory processes. This approach to predicting environmentally relevant chemicals that may alter EVs provides a novel method for evidence-based hypothesis generation for future studies evaluating the link between environmental exposures and EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste K. Carberry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julia E. Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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8
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Carberry CK, Koval LE, Payton A, Hartwell H, Ho Kim Y, Smith GJ, Reif DM, Jaspers I, Ian Gilmour M, Rager JE. Wildfires and extracellular vesicles: Exosomal MicroRNAs as mediators of cross-tissue cardiopulmonary responses to biomass smoke. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107419. [PMID: 35863239 PMCID: PMC9389917 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Wildfires are a threat to public health world-wide that are growing in intensity and prevalence. The biological mechanisms that elicit wildfire-associated toxicity remain largely unknown. The potential involvement of cross-tissue communication via extracellular vesicles (EVs) is a new mechanism that has yet to be evaluated. METHODS Female CD-1 mice were exposed to smoke condensate samples collected from the following biomass burn scenarios: flaming peat; smoldering peat; flaming red oak; and smoldering red oak, representing lab-based simulations of wildfire scenarios. Lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples, peripheral blood, and heart tissues were collected 4 and 24 h post-exposure. Exosome-enriched EVs were isolated from plasma, physically characterized, and profiled for microRNA (miRNA) expression. Pathway-level responses in the lung and heart were evaluated through RNA sequencing and pathway analyses. RESULTS Markers of cardiopulmonary tissue injury and inflammation from BALF samples were significantly altered in response to exposures, with the greatest changes occurring from flaming biomass conditions. Plasma EV miRNAs relevant to cardiovascular disease showed exposure-induced expression alterations, including miR-150, miR-183, miR-223-3p, miR-30b, and miR-378a. Lung and heart mRNAs were identified with differential expression enriched for hypoxia and cell stress-related pathways. Flaming red oak exposure induced the greatest transcriptional response in the heart, a large portion of which were predicted as regulated by plasma EV miRNAs, including miRNAs known to regulate hypoxia-induced cardiovascular injury. Many of these miRNAs had published evidence supporting their transfer across tissues. A follow-up analysis of miR-30b showed that it was increased in expression in the heart of exposed mice in the absence of changes to its precursor molecular, pri-miR-30b, suggesting potential transfer from external sources (e.g., plasma). DISCUSSION This study posits a potential mechanism through which wildfire exposures induce cardiopulmonary responses, highlighting the role of circulating plasma EVs in intercellular and systems-level communication between tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste K Carberry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lauren E Koval
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alexis Payton
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hadley Hartwell
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gregory J Smith
- Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - David M Reif
- Bioinformatics Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - M Ian Gilmour
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Curriculum in Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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