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Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a safe and effective vector for gene therapy for retinal disorders. Gene therapy for hearing disorders is not as advanced, in part because gene delivery to sensory hair cells of the inner ear is inefficient. Although AAV transduces the inner hair cells of the mouse cochlea, outer hair cells remain refractory to transduction. Here, we demonstrate that a vector, exosome-associated AAV (exo-AAV), is a potent carrier of transgenes to all inner ear hair cells. Exo-AAV1-GFP is more efficient than conventional AAV1-GFP, both in mouse cochlear explants in vitro and with direct cochlear injection in vivo. Exo-AAV shows no toxicity in vivo, as assayed by tests of auditory and vestibular function. Finally, exo-AAV1 gene therapy partially rescues hearing in a mouse model of hereditary deafness (lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like 5/tetraspan membrane protein of hair cell stereocilia [Lhfpl5/Tmhs−/−]). Exo-AAV is a powerful gene delivery system for hair cell research and may be useful for gene therapy for deafness. [Display omitted] Gene therapy for deafness is difficult because few vectors transduce inner ear sensory cells, and those that do, transduce only one type. In a mouse model, György and colleagues demonstrate that exosome-associated AAV vectors efficiently deliver genes to all inner ear sensory cells and rescue hearing in deaf mice.

Plasma and other body fluids contain cell‐derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), which participate in physiopathological processes and have potential biomedical applications. In order to isolate, concentrate and purify EVs, high‐speed centrifugation is often used. We show here, using electron microscopy, receptor‐specific gold labelling and flow cytometry, that high‐speed centrifugation induces the formation of EV aggregates composed of a mixture of EVs of various phenotypes and morphologies. The presence of aggregates made of EVs of different phenotypes may lead to erroneous interpretation concerning the existence of EVs harbouring surface antigens from different cell origins.

Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are popular models of cell membranes with potential biotechnological applications and an understanding of the mechanisms of SLB formation is now emerging. Here we characterize, by combining atomic force microscopy, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, and ellipsometry, the formation of SLBs on mica from sonicated unilamellar vesicles using mixtures of zwitterionic, negatively and positively charged lipids. The results are compared with those we reported previously on silica. As on silica, electrostatic interactions were found to determine the pathway of lipid deposition. However, fundamental differences in the stability of surface-bound vesicles and the mobility of SLB patches were observed, and point out the determining role of the solid support in the SLB-formation process. The presence of calcium was found to have a much more pronounced influence on the lipid deposition process on mica than on silica. Our results indicate a specific calcium-mediated interaction between dioleoylphosphatidylserine molecules and mica. In addition, we show that the use of PLL- g-PEG modified tips considerably improves the AFM imaging of surface-bound vesicles and bilayer patches and evaluate the effects of the AFM tip on the apparent size and shape of these soft structures.

Extracellular vesicles (EV) in breast milk carry immune relevant proteins and could play an important role in the instruction of the neonatal immune system. To further analyze these EV and to elucidate their function it is important that native populations of EV can be recovered from (stored) breast milk samples in a reproducible fashion. However, the impact of isolation and storage procedures on recovery of breast milk EV has remained underexposed. Here, we aimed to define parameters important for EV recovery from fresh and stored breast milk. To compare various protocols across different donors, breast milk was spiked with a well-defined murine EV population. We found that centrifugation of EV down into density gradients largely improved density-based separation and isolation of EV, compared to floatation up into gradients after high-force pelleting of EV. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we identified different subpopulations of human breast milk EV and a not previously described population of lipid tubules. Additionally, the impact of cold storage on breast milk EV was investigated. We determined that storing unprocessed breast milk at −80°C or 4°C caused death of cells present in breast milk, leading to contamination of the breast milk EV population with storage-induced EV. Here, an alternative method is proposed to store breast milk samples for EV analysis at later time points. The proposed adaptations to the breast milk storage and EV isolation procedures can be applied for EV-based biomarker profiling of breast milk and functional analysis of the role of breast milk EV in the development of the neonatal immune system.

Secretory phospholipase A 2 -IIA (sPLA 2 -IIA) is a bactericidal enzyme that hydrolyzes membrane phospholipids, releasing lipid metabolites that can affect inflammation. sPLA 2 -IIA exhibits poor activity toward eukaryotic cells but preferentially targets gram-positive bacterial membranes. While sPLA 2 -IIA is constitutively expressed in the intestine and upregulated by inflammation in various bodily fluids, its precise physiological substrates remain debated. Intriguingly, sPLA 2 -IIA can modulate the intestinal lipidome without altering the microbiota composition. Here, we investigated whether sPLA 2 -IIA could use membranes from bacterial extracellular vesicles (bEVs) as alternative substrates to modulate immune signaling. We found that bEVs from both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli could mitigate the bactericidal effects of sPLA 2 -IIA on gram-positive bacteria. Enzymatic hydrolysis of bacteria, bEVs and fecal extracellular vesicles released distinct lipid metabolites and differentially impacted Toll-like receptor activation. These findings suggest that sPLA 2 -IIA can use bEVs as substrates and modulate inflammatory signaling through the generation of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, thus linking bacterial lipid metabolism to host immune response. Secretory phospholipase A2-IIA, a bactericidal enzyme whose main expression is in the intestine, uses bacterial extracellular vesicles as substrates to release lipid metabolites and affect immune pathways.

Microvesicles (MVs) are a subtype of extracellular vesicles that can transfer biological information over long distances, affecting normal and pathological processes including skin wound healing. However, the diffusion of MVs into tissues can be impeded by the extracellular matrix (ECM). We investigated the diffusion of dermal wound myofibroblast‐derived MVs into the ECM by using hydrogels composed of different ECM molecules such as fibrin, type III collagen and type I collagen that are present during the healing process. Fluorescent MVs mixed with hydrogels were employed to detect MV diffusion using fluorometric methods. Our results showed that MVs specifically bound type I collagen and diffused freely out of fibrin and type III collagen. Further analysis using flow cytometry and specific inhibitors revealed that MVs bind to type I collagen via the α2β1 integrin. These data demonstrate that MV transport depends on the composition of the wound environment. Graphical :

Annexin A5 is a protein that binds to membranes containing negatively charged phospholipids in a calcium-dependent manner. We previously found that annexin A5 self-assembles into two-dimensional (2D) crystals on supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) formed on mica while a monolayer of disordered trimers is formed on SLBs on silica. Here, we investigated in detail and correlated the adsorption kinetics of annexin A5 on SLBs, supported on silica and on mica, with the protein’s 2D self-assembly behavior. For this study, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and ellipsometry were combined with atomic force microscopy. We find, in agreement with previous studies, that the adsorption behavior is strongly dependent on the concentration of dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) in the SLB and the calcium concentration in solution. The adsorption kinetics of annexin A5 are similar on silica-SLBs and on mica-SLBs, when taking into account the difference in accessible DOPS between silica-SLBs and mica-SLBs. In contrast, 2D crystals of annexin A5 form readily on mica-SLBs, even at low protein coverage (≤10%), whereas they are not found on silica-SLBs, except in a narrow range close to maximal coverage. These results enable us to construct the phase diagram for the membrane binding and the states of 2D organization of annexin A5. The protein binds to the membrane in two different fractions, one reversible and the other irreversible, at a given calcium concentration. The adsorption is determined by the interaction of protein monomers with the membrane. We propose that the local membrane environment, as defined by the presence of DOPS, DOPC, and calcium ions, controls the adsorption and reversibility of protein binding.

Eukaryotic cells possess a universal repair machinery that ensures rapid resealing of plasma membrane disruptions. Before resealing, the torn membrane is submitted to considerable tension, which functions to expand the disruption. Here we show that annexin-A5 (AnxA5), a protein that self-assembles into two-dimensional (2D) arrays on membranes upon Ca 2+ activation, promotes membrane repair. Compared with wild-type mouse perivascular cells, AnxA5-null cells exhibit a severe membrane repair defect. Membrane repair in AnxA5-null cells is rescued by addition of AnxA5, which binds exclusively to disrupted membrane areas. In contrast, an AnxA5 mutant that lacks the ability of forming 2D arrays is unable to promote membrane repair. We propose that AnxA5 participates in a previously unrecognized step of the membrane repair process: triggered by the local influx of Ca 2+ , AnxA5 proteins bind to torn membrane edges and form a 2D array, which prevents wound expansion and promotes membrane resealing. Eukaryotic cell plasma membranes possess a mechanism to repair tears caused by stimuli such as mechanical stress. The authors demonstrate that annexin-A5, when assembled into two-dimensional arrays in the presence of calcium, is required for membrane repair.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year‐on‐year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non‐vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its ‘Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles’, which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are showing promise in gene therapy trials and have proven to be extremely efficient biological tools in basic neuroscience research. One major limitation to their widespread use in the neuroscience laboratory is the cost, labor, skill and time-intense purification process of AAV. We have recently shown that AAV can associate with exosomes (exo-AAV) when the vector is isolated from conditioned media of producer cells, and the exo-AAV is more resistant to neutralizing anti-AAV antibodies compared with standard AAV. Here, we demonstrate that simple pelleting of exo-AAV from media via ultracentrifugation results in high-titer vector preparations capable of efficient transduction of central nervous system (CNS) cells after systemic injection in mice. We observed that exo-AAV is more efficient at gene delivery to the brain at low vector doses relative to conventional AAV, even when derived from a serotype that does not normally efficiently cross the blood–brain barrier. Similar cell types were transduced by exo-AAV and conventionally purified vector. Importantly, no cellular toxicity was noted in exo-AAV-transduced cells. We demonstrated the utility and robustness of exo-AAV-mediated gene delivery by detecting direct GFP fluorescence after systemic injection, allowing three-dimensional reconstruction of transduced Purkinje cells in the cerebellum using ex vivo serial two-photon tomography. The ease of isolation combined with the high efficiency of transgene expression in the CNS, may enable the widespread use of exo-AAV as a neuroscience research tool. Furthermore, the ability of exo-AAV to evade neutralizing antibodies while still transducing CNS after peripheral delivery is clinically relevant.