Characterization of Large Extracellular Vesicles Released by Apoptotic and Pyroptotic Cells

TL;DR

This study explores large extracellular vesicles released during cell death, revealing distinct protein profiles that could help understand their role in health and disease.

Contribution

The study identifies unique molecular signatures of large EVs released during apoptosis and pyroptosis, offering new insights into their biological roles.

Findings

Apoptotic and pyroptotic cells release large EVs with distinct proteomic profiles.

Pyroptotic EVs contain RNA-binding and chromatin-associated proteins, while apoptotic EVs carry dsDNA and active caspase-3/7.

EVs from dying cells show increased Annexin V binding and decreased CD9 expression.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as key factors in maintaining cellular homeostasis, critical mediators of intercellular communication, potential biomarkers, and therapeutic tools. While small EVs have been extensively characterized, the molecular signatures of large EVs (including those generated during regulated cell death pathways) remain poorly defined. Here, we investigated the characteristics of large EVs released during apoptosis and pyroptosis by human monocytic cell lines (THP-1 and U937). Apoptosis was induced by staurosporine and blocked using the pan-caspase inhibitor Q-VD-OPh, whereas pyroptosis was triggered by LPS/nigericin and inhibited with a selective NLRP3 inhibitor. We found that both forms of regulated cell death markedly enhanced the release of large EVs. Both apoptotic and pyroptotic large EVs showed increased Annexin V binding and decreased CD9 expression compared with those released by healthy cells. Large EVs derived from apoptotic and pyroptotic cells exhibited distinct proteomic profiles. Pyroptotic large EVs carried interacting protein networks of RNA-binding proteins and chromatin-associated proteins many of which are known damage-associated molecular patterns or alarmins. In contrast, we found that a subpopulation of apoptotic large EVs was characterized by the presence of dsDNA, and active caspase-3/7. Together, our data shed light on the specific protein cargo of large EVs released by cells during apoptosis and pyroptosis. This study identifies candidate markers of large EVs released by dying cells and may enhance our understanding of the role of EVs in regulated cell death.

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