Biogenesis and delivery of extracellular vesicles: harnessing the power of EVs for diagnostics and therapeutics

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed particles secreted by a variety of cell types. These vesicles encapsulate a diverse range of molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, metabolites, and even organelles derived from their parental cells. While EVs have emerged as crucial mediators of intercellular communication, they also hold immense potential as both biomarkers and therapeutic agents for numerous diseases. A thorough understanding of EV biogenesis is crucial for the development of EV-based diagnostic developments since the composition of EVs can reflect the health and disease status of the donor cell. Moreover, when EVs are taken up by target cells, they can exert profound effects on gene expression, signaling pathways, and cellular behavior, which makes these biomolecules enticing targets for therapeutic interventions. Yet, despite decades of research, the intricate processes underlying EV biogenesis by donor cells and subsequent uptake by recipient cells remain poorly understood. In this review, we aim to summarize current insights and advancements in the biogenesis and uptake mechanisms of EVs. By shedding light on the fundamental mechanisms governing EV biogenesis and delivery, this review underscores the potential of basic mechanistic research to pave the way for developing novel diagnostic strategies and therapeutic applications.

Multiple Biliary Hamartomas (von Meyenburg complexes) - A Case Report

Multiple biliary hamartoma (MBH) is a rare cause of multiple benign hepatic lesions. The condition is also known as von Meyenburg complexes, multiple bile duct hamartomas and biliary microhamartomas. MBH is asymptomatic and usually found incidentally where it is important to differentiate from other causes of multiple liver lesions particularly liver metastases. Histologically, they consist of cystic dilatation of the bile duct, encompassed by fibrous stroma. We reported a 74 year old male patient with multiple hepatic lesions which ultrasonographic appearance suggested multiple hepatic cysts. The diagnosis of MBH was made by MRCP of whole abdomen. Recognition of this unusual lesion is essential to avoid confusion with other cystic tumors of the liver specially liver metastases and to learn more about its natural history and response to treatment.Pulse Vol.9 January-December 2016 p.60-63

A case report of spinal intramedullary lipoma

3 months old boy presented with inablility to move upper limb and cries on touching the upper limb from 1 week of age. On examination reflexes were absent in upper limb but hyper reflexia was found in lower limb. Cervical and brain MRI revealed expansion of the cervical spinal canal with smoothly marginated mass within the cervical cord which is hyperintense in T1WI, T2WI and completely loses its signal intensity in FS and gradient weighted sequences. There was no diffusion restriction and appears mostly intramedullary. MRI features were consistent with intramedullary lipoma in cervical spinal cord.Pulse Vol.7 January-December 2014 p.50-52

Uterine Didelphys Associated With Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly (OHVIRA) Syndrome: a Case Report

A 30 year old nulligravida female reported to the fertility centre of AHD with the complaints of primary infertility for three and half years and spasmodic dysmenorrhoea. There is also history of progressively increasing right lower abdominal pain as well as discomfort which was cyclically associated with the onset of menses. Transabdominal sonography showed-‘Endometrial splitting into two at the fundus–suggesting bicornuate uterus. Echogenic soft tissue in the cervical canal due to blood clots. Non visualized right kidney. Mildly enlarged left kidney’. HSG done outside AHD suggestive of unicornuate uterus with single fallopian tube. IVU showed non visualized right kidney. Normally excreting left kidney. TVS showed normal sized septated nulliparus uterus with homogeneous myometrium and thick endometrium with proliferative phase echo. Mildly enlarged right ovary with mildly distended right tube. Mild collection adjacent to the vagina. Then the patient came to the gynaecology dept of AHD from where she was sent to our Radiology department to undergo MRI of pelvis. The MRI showed uterine didelphys. Obstructed hemivagina (right) with hematocolpos extended upto pelvic brim along right and posterior aspect of uterus through anomalous dilated remnant of right lower ureter with ipsilateral renal agenesis. Patient was diagnosed as OHVIRA syndrome radiologically. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pulse.v6i1-2.20358 Pulse Vol.6 January-December 2013 p.66-69

Computer-assisted pre- and postoperative evaluation of surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion

OBJECTIVE

Computer-assisted methods were used to evaluate different variants of surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) in terms of bone repositioning, new bone formation in the osteotomy gap, and bone quality before and after surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-nine patients (18 male, 11 female) with a mean age of 29 years (16 to 44 years) were included in the study. Surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion with Le Fort I osteotomy was performed in all patients studied. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) was carried out directly before and 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. After registration of the preoperative CT data on the postoperative data, 3D models were constructed and superimposed. New bone formation in the osteotomy gap was visualized by means of a visualization procedure developed specifically for this purpose. Bone quality was analyzed by dividing the models into different anatomical segments. A qualitative comparison of the data was accomplished using a direct volume rendering procedure with a special transfer function. A quantitative comparison was carried out based on the pre- and postoperative histograms of each region.

RESULTS

Maxillary widening was confirmed in all patients by computer-assisted analysis. Four patients exhibited significant maxillary asymmetry after surgery. New bone formation within the osteotomy gap was irregular along the osteotomy lines but often symmetrical on both sides. The more symmetrical the osteotomy, the more symmetrical the new bone formation proved to be. In all but two cases, the postoperative qualitative and quantitative analyses showed a significant decrease in Hounsfield units, particularly in the vestibular bone.

CONCLUSION

The differences in new bone formation in the osteotomy gap suggest that the type of surgical technique and distractor used influence the outcome. Our results indicate that SAME results in a decrease in bone quality, particularly in the vestibular bone. Computer-assisted analysis clearly results in an information gain.

Molecular Cloning of a Novel Bradykinin-Related Peptide from the Skin of Indian Bronzed Frog Hylarana Temporalis

Bradykinin-related peptides (BRPs) constitute one of the most studied groups of bioactive peptides in amphibian skin secretions. The present study describes the successful isolation of a novel BRP (hylaranakinin TE) from the skin secretion of the Indian bronzed frog Hylarana temporalis. The deduced open reading frame consisted of 115 amino acid residues with a putative signal peptide of 22 amino acid residues, followed by a spacer region and mature peptide regions that encode for two BRPs: a canonical bradykinin R-9-R with a C-terminal extension of FVPASSL and Thr6-BK. The Thr6-BK reported in the present study had an unusual FP-insertion in the N-terminal part and ended in FAPEII, which is very different from the IAPAIV sequence reported in other ranid frogs. Unlike the mammalian bradykinin and its precursor, amphibian BRPs and their precursors are extremely variable, as evident from the present study. This forms the first report of BRPs from Hylarana temporalis, endemic to India and Sri Lanka.