The generation of transgenic rat model for tracing extracellular vesicles in vivo

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26830061
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Laboratory animal science
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Aya Yoshimura 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 神経研究所・疾病研究第三部, 科研費研究員 (90466483)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: ラット / エクソソーム / トランスジェニック

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) which encompass microvesicles (budding from the plasma membrane) and exosomes (endosomal in origin) have an important role in the transfer of biomolecules between cells. To facilitate the investigation of the intercellular transfer of EVs in vivo, we generated a new transgenic (Tg) rat model. In this study, GFP-tagged human CD63 was used because CD63 protein is highly enriched on EV membranes and is known as an EV marker. We produced two Tg rat lines expressing human CD63-GFP regulated by CAG promoter or Sox2 promoter, respectively. Exogenous human CD63-GFP was detected on EVs isolated from the body fluids and the cultured medium of Tg rats. Furthermore, in vitro culture showed transfer of Tg-derived EVs into recipient cells. These results suggested that the new Tg rat model should provide significant information to reveal the communication between cells via EVs in vivo.

Free Research Field

分子生物学