Isolation and characterization of urine microvesicles from prostate cancer patients: different approaches, different visions

Comparative analysis of the minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles guidelines: Advancements and implications for extracellular vesicle research

In 2014, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) introduced the Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (MISEV) guidelines to establish standards for extracellular vesicle (EV) research. These guidelines aimed to enhance reliability and reproducibility, addressing the expanding field of EV science. EVs, membrane-bound particles released by cells, play crucial roles in intercellular communication and are potential biomarkers for various conditions. Over the years, the EV landscape witnessed a surge in publications, emphasizing their roles in cancer and immune modulation. In response, the MISEV guidelines underwent evolution, leading to the MISEV2018 update. This version, generated through community outreach, provided a comprehensive framework for EV research methodologies, emphasizing separation, characterization, reporting standards, and community engagement. The MISEV2018 guidelines reflected responsiveness to feedback, acknowledging the evolving EV research landscape. The guidelines served as a testament to the commitment of the scientific community to rigorous standards and the collective discernment of experts. The present article compares previous MISEV guidelines with its 2023 counterpart, highlighting advancements, changes, and impacts on EV research standardization. The 2023 guidelines build upon the 2018 principles, offering new recommendations for emerging areas. This comparative exploration contributes to understanding the transformative journey in EV research, emphasizing MISEV's pivotal role and the scientific community's adaptability to challenges.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Plasmatic Exosome Count in Cancer Patients and in Patients with Other Pathologies

The extent of both scientific articles and reviews on extracellular vesicles (EVs) has grown impressively over the last few decades [...].

Prostate cancer-derived small extracellular vesicle proteins: the hope in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutics

Current diagnostic tools for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and risk stratification are insufficient. The hidden onset and poor efficacy of traditional therapies against metastatic PCa make this disease a heavy burden in global men's health. Prostate cancer-derived extracellular vesicles (PCDEVs) have garnered attention in recent years due to their important role in communications in tumor microenvironment. Recent advancements have demonstrated PCDEVs proteins play an important role in PCa invasion, progression, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and immune escape. In this review, we briefly discuss the applications of sEV proteins in PCa diagnosis and prognosis in liquid biopsy, focus on the roles of the PCa-derived small EVs (sEVs) proteins in tumor microenvironment associated with cancer progression, and explore the therapeutic potential of sEV proteins applied for future metastatic PCa therapy.

Capturing the Kidney Transcriptome by Urinary Extracellular Vesicles-From Pre-Analytical Obstacles to Biomarker Research

Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEV) hold non-invasive RNA biomarkers for genitourinary tract diseases. However, missing knowledge about reference genes and effects of preanalytical choices hinder biomarker studies. We aimed to assess how preanalytical variables (urine storage temperature, isolation workflow) affect diabetic kidney disease (DKD)-linked miRNAs or kidney-linked miRNAs and mRNAs (kidney-RNAs) in uEV isolates and to discover stable reference mRNAs across diverse uEV datasets. We studied nine raw and normalized sequencing datasets including healthy controls and individuals with prostate cancer or type 1 diabetes with or without albuminuria. We focused on kidney-RNAs reviewing literature for DKD-linked miRNAs from kidney tissue, cell culture and uEV/urine experiments. RNAs were analyzed by expression heatmaps, hierarchical clustering and selecting stable mRNAs with normalized counts (>200) and minimal coefficient of variation. Kidney-RNAs were decreased after urine storage at -20 °C vs. -80 °C. Isolation workflows captured kidney-RNAs with different efficiencies. Ultracentrifugation captured DKD -linked miRNAs that separated healthy and diabetic macroalbuminuria groups. Eleven mRNAs were stably expressed across the datasets. Hence, pre-analytical choices had variable effects on kidney-RNAs-analyzing kidney-RNAs complemented global correlation, which could fade differences in some relevant RNAs. Replicating prior DKD-marker results and discovery of candidate reference mRNAs encourages further uEV biomarker studies.

The Importance of Detecting, Quantifying, and Characterizing Exosomes as a New Diagnostic/Prognostic Approach for Tumor Patients

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) of nanometric size studied for their role in tumor pathogenesis and progression and as a new source of tumor biomarkers. The clinical studies have provided encouraging but probably unexpected results, including the exosome plasmatic levels' clinical relevance and well-known biomarkers' overexpression on the circulating EVs. The technical approach to obtaining EVs includes methods to physically purify EVs and characterize EVs, such as Nanosight Tracking Analysis (NTA), immunocapture-based ELISA, and nano-scale flow cytometry. Based on the above approaches, some clinical investigations have been performed on patients with different tumors, providing exciting and promising results. Here we emphasize data showing that exosome plasmatic levels are consistently higher in tumor patients than in controls and that plasmatic exosomes express well-known tumor markers (e.g., PSA and CEA), proteins with enzymatic activity, and nucleic acids. However, we also know that tumor microenvironment acidity is a key factor in influencing both the amount and the characteristics of the exosome released by tumor cells. In fact, acidity significantly increases exosome release by tumor cells, which correlates with the number of exosomes that circulate through the body of a tumor patient.

A review of sensors for classification and subtype discrimination of cancer: Insights into circulating tumor cells and tumor-derived extracellular vesicles

Liquid biopsy can reflect the state of tumors in vivo non-invasively, thus providing a strong basis for the early diagnosis, individualized treatment monitoring and prognosis of tumors. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (tdEVs) contain information-rich components, such as nucleic acids and proteins, and they are essential markers for liquid biopsies. Their capture and analysis are of great importance for the study of disease occurrence and development and, consequently, have been the subject of many reviews. However, both CTCs and tdEVs carry the biological characteristics of their original tissue, and few reviews have focused on their function in the staging and classification of cancer. In this review, we focus on state-of-the-art sensors based on the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers within CTCs and tdEVs, with clinical applications centered on cancer classification and subtyping. We also provide a thorough discussion of the current challenges and prospects for novel sensors with the ultimate goal of cancer classification and staging. It is hoped that these most advanced technologies will bring new insights into the clinical practice of cancer screening and diagnosis.

Extracellular vesicles in human milk

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Milk-derived extracellular vesicles (MDEVs) are nanovesicles that carry microRNA (miRNA) DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids. MDEVs have a potential of therapeutic targets, based on their properties and cargo profile. The present review summarizes recent studies on MDEVs, their cargo and potential role in mammalian development.

RECENT FINDINGS

The detailed characterization of their miRNA cargo leads to the conclusion of their potential importance in the regulation of gene expression, immune function, development and infant growth.While their miRNAs are important regulatory elements and their profile expression was characterized in various mammalian milk sources, little is known about their effect on infant health and development. MiRNA activity in breast milk is likely influenced by the overall ecosystem of the early environment, including maternal characteristics, behaviors, and health.

SUMMARY

MDEVs may have an important role in early child development and infant future health. Understanding benefits of MDEVs characteristics have potential role on gut maturation, immune system development and the prevention of metabolic disorders.