Biology subjects

Fordjour, F. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Fordjour, F. K..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Exomap1 mouse: a transgenic model for in vivo studies of exosome biology

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) of [~]30-150 nm in diameter that have the same topology as the cell, are enriched in selected exosome cargo proteins, and play important roles in health and disease. To address large unanswered questions regarding exosome biology in vivo, we created the exomap1 transgenic mouse model. In response to Cre recombinase, exomap1 mice express HsCD81mNG, a fusion protein between human CD81, the most highly enriched exosome protein yet described, and the bright green fluorescent protein mNeonGreen. As expected, cell type-specific expression of Cre induced the cell type-specific expression of HsCD81mNG in diverse cell types, correctly localized HsCD81mNG to the plasma membrane, and selectively loaded HsCD81mNG into secreted vesicles that have the size ([~]80 nm), topology (outside out), and content (presence of mouse exosome markers) of exosomes. Furthermore, mouse cells expressing HsCD81mNG released HsCD81mNG-marked exosomes into blood and other biofluids. Using high-resolution, single-exosome analysis by quantitative single molecule localization microscopy, we show here that that hepatocytes contribute [~]15% of the blood exosome population whereas neurons contribute <1% of blood exosomes. These estimates of cell type-specific contributions to blood EV population are consistent with the porosity of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells to particles of [~]50-300 nm in diameter, as well as with the impermeability of blood-brain and blood-neuron barriers to particles >5 nm in size. Taken together, these results establish the exomap1 mouse as a useful tool for in vivo studies of exosome biology, and for mapping cell type-specific contributions to biofluid exosome populations. In addition, our data confirm that CD81 is a highly-specific marker for exosomes and is not enriched in the larger microvesicle class of EVs.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

A shared pathway of exosome biogenesis operates at plasma and endosome membranes

Eukaryotic cells secrete exosomes, which are small (~30-200 nm dia.), single membrane-bound organelles that transmit signals and molecules to other cells. Exosome-mediated signaling contributes to diverse physiological and disease processes, rendering their biogenesis of high biomedical importance. The prevailing hypothesis is that exosomes bud exclusively at endosome membranes and are released only upon endosome fusion with the plasma membrane. Here we tested this hypothesis by examining the intracellular sorting and exosomal secretion of the exosome cargo proteins CD63, CD9, and CD81. We report here that CD9 and CD81 are both localized to the plasma membrane and bud >5-fold more efficiently than endosome-localized CD63. Furthermore, we show that redirecting CD63 from endosomes to the plasma membrane by mutating its endocytosis signal (CD63/Y235A) increased its exosomal secretion ~6-fold, whereas redirecting CD9 to endosomes by adding an endosome targeting signal (CD9/YEVM) reduced its exosomal secretion ~5-fold. These data demonstrate that the plasma membrane is a major site of exosome biogenesis, and more importantly, that cells possess a common pathway for exosome protein budding that operates at both plasma and endosome membranes. Using a combination of single-particle interferometry reflectance (SPIR) imaging and immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy, we also show that variations in exosome composition are controlled by differential intracellular protein trafficking rather than by separate mechanisms of exosome biogenesis. This new view of exosome biogenesis offers a simple explanation for the pronounced compositional heterogeneity of exosomes and a validated roadmap for exosome engineering. SummaryThis study of exosome cargo protein budding reveals that cells use a common pathway for budding exosomes from plasma and endosome membranes, providing a new mechanistic explanation for exosome heterogeneity and a rational roadmap for exosome engineering.

cell biology↗