The elucidation of membrane traffic pathway required for the exosomal heterogeneity generation

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K21174
• Project/Area Number (Other): 18H06039 (2018)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2019); Single-year Grants (2018)
• Review Section: 0701:Biology at molecular to cellular levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Matsui Takahide 東北大学, 生命科学研究科, 助教 (10827794)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-08-24 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: exosome / endosomal / ESCRT

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that have various physiological and pathological functions. Recently, the exosomal heterogeneity, that is, various types (e.g., sizes and contents) of exosomes being released from a single cell, has been reported. Because once the heterogenous exosomes are released into the extracellular space, it is extremely difficult to distinguish, collect, and analyze them separately. Thus, the mechanisms by which heterogenous exosomes are produced within cells are poorly understood, so far.
In this study, we for the first time established a method to efficiently analyze the exosome heterogeneity by using epithelial MDCK cell. And we found that MDCK cells release two distinct types of exosomes with distinct protein compositions via two independent mechanisms .

Free Research Field

細胞生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

エキソソームは特定の分子を含み、新しい細胞間コミュニケーションの方法として着目されている。実際に細胞間の恒常性維持に重要な役割を持つことも示唆されている。また、ある種のガン細胞では浸潤を促進するために特殊なエキソソームを分泌し、周囲の細胞の性質を変える可能性があることもわかってきている。本研究では、単一細胞における多様なエキソソームの生合成機構の解明に取り組んだ。したがって、本研究の知見が、生体内におけるガンの浸潤、進行のメカニズム解明の一助となる可能性もあり得る。