Integrated systems for exosome investigation

Methods. 2015 Oct 1:87:31-45. doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.04.015. Epub 2015 Apr 24.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, are currently being investigated to better understand their biogenesis and biological functions. There is also a rapidly growing interest in utilizing exosomes present in patient biofluids for molecular diagnostics in the clinic. Exosomes are natural shuttles of RNA and protein cargo, making them attractive as potential therapeutic delivery vehicles. Here, we describe the methods for using the latest tools and technologies to study exosomes to better understand their roles in cell-to-cell communication, for discovery of clinical biomarkers and to engineer exosomes for therapeutic applications.

Keywords: Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Liquid biopsy; Nanobiomedicine; Oncosomes; miRNA biomarkers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / isolation & purification*
  • Cell Fractionation / instrumentation
  • Cell Fractionation / methods
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Exosomes / chemistry*
  • Flocculation
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / isolation & purification*
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / isolation & purification*
  • Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / isolation & purification*
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Ultracentrifugation
  • Ultrafiltration

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MicroRNAs
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic