Inga Nazarova

Background. Heat stress (HS) induces the cellular secretion of heat shock proteins (HSP ) and extracellular nanovesicles (ENVs). The biological link between these phenomena is poorly understood. In the case of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, the secretion of HSP s and ENV may be involved in the clinical response to intraperitoneal therapy of peritoneal carcinomatosis.Material and Methods. Established colon cancer cell lines COLO 320, HCT 116, HT29 and DLD 1 were used. ENVs were isolated from culture media by differential ultra-centrifugation and analyzed by dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle tracking analysis, atomic force microscopy and flow cytometry. Super-paramagnetic particles (SPMP ) covered by antibodies to the membrane form of Hsp70 were used for isolation and quantification of Hsp70(+) ENVs. Vesicular microRNA was assayed by RT-qPC R.Results. HS induces the secretion of ENVs by CRC cells, the resistance to HS correlates with the activity of HS-induced ENVs secretion. HS induces the secretion of a specific population of ENVs enriched by membrane form Hsp70 (mHsp70). The microRNA content of mHsp70(+) ENVs has qualitative and quantitative features. The concentration of miR-126-3p, -181-5p, -155-5p, -223 is increased in mHSP 70(+) ENVs secreted by three CRC cell lines.Conclusion. HS induces the secretion of mHSP 70(+) ENVs by CRC cells. This phenomenon may be involved in a clinical response to intraperitoneal chemo-hyperthermic perfusion therapy of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

A liquid biopsy based on circulating small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) has not yet been used in routine clinical practice due to the lack of reliable analytic technologies. Recent studies have demonstrated the great diagnostic potential of nanozyme-based systems for the detection of SEV markers. Here, we hypothesize that CD30-positive Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells secrete CD30 + SEVs; therefore, the relative amount of circulating CD30 + SEVs might reflect classical forms of Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) activity and can be measured by using a nanozyme-based technique. A AuNP aptasensor analytics system was created using aurum nanoparticles (AuNPs) with peroxidase activity. Sensing was mediated by competing properties of DNA aptamers to attach onto surface of AuNPs inhibiting their enzymatic activity and to bind specific markers on SEVs surface. An enzymatic activity of AuNPs was evaluated through the color reaction. The study included characterization of the components of the analytic system and its functionality using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and spectrophotometry. AuNP aptasensor analytics were optimized to quantify plasma CD30 + SEVs. The developed method allowed us to differentiate healthy donors and cHL patients. The results of the CD30 + SEV quantification in the plasma of cHL patients were compared with the results of disease activity assessment by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) scanning, revealing a strong positive correlation. Moreover, two cycles of chemotherapy resulted in a statistically significant decrease in CD30 + SEVs in the plasma of cHL patients. The proposed AuNP aptasensor system presents a promising new approach for monitoring cHL patients and can be modified for the diagnostic testing of other diseases.

Background. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) circulating in plasma are promising markers for the diagnosis of malignant tumors, including prostate cancer. However, the existing techniques used for their detection fail to ensure sufficient diagnostic accuracy. One of the possible ways to improve it is to isolate membrane nano-sized extracellular vesicles (nsEVs) secreted by prostate cells. Presumably, the analysis of miRNAs originating from this prostate-specific fraction of nsEVs more accurately reflects the process of prostate cancer development and has a greater diagnostic potential. Objective: to develop the method of miRNA isolation from the prostate-specific fraction of plasma nsEVs and to evaluate its performance characteristics.Materials and methods. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) was used as a prostate-specific marker of nsEVs. The total population of plasma nsEVs was isolated using a two-phase polymer system. To isolate PSMA-positive (PSMA(+)) nsEVs, we used superparamagnetic particles with PSMA-binding DNA aptamer immobilized on their surface. The efficacy of PSMA(+) nsEV isolation was assessed using flow cytometry and dot-blotting. RNA from nsEVs was isolated using proteolysis; miRNA analysis was performed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Plasma samples collected from patients with prostate cancer (n = 33) and healthy donors (controls) (n = 30) were used to evaluate the diagnostic parameters of the method.Results. We developed the method of PSMA(+) nsEV isolation from plasma and estimated its performance characteristics. We found that measurement of potential miRNA markers in PSMA(+) nsEVs was more effective than its measurement in the entire nsEV population and could distinguish between patients with prostate cancer and controls.Conclusion. The new technique of PSMA(+) nsEV isolation can be used for the development of novel diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Vesicular miRNA has emerged as a promising marker for various types of cancer, including prostate cancer (PC). In the advanced stage of PC, the cancer-cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) may constitute a significant portion of circulating vesicles and may mediate a detectable change in the plasma vesicular miRNA profile. However, SEVs secreted by small tumor in the prostate gland constitute a tiny fraction of circulating vesicles and cause undetectable miRNA pattern changes. Thus, the isolation and miRNA profiling of a specific prostate-derived fraction of SEVs can improve the diagnostic potency of the methods based on vesicular miRNA analysis. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) was selected as a marker of prostate-derived SEVs. Super-paramagnetic beads (SPMBs) were functionalized by PSMA-binding DNA aptamer (PSMA–Apt) via a click reaction. The efficacy of SPMB–PSMA–Apt complex formation and PSMA(+)SEVs capture were assayed by flow cytometry. miRNA was isolated from the total population of SEVs and PSMA(+)SEVs of PC patients (n = 55) and healthy donors (n = 30). Four PC-related miRNAs (miR-145, miR-451a, miR-143, and miR-221) were assayed by RT-PCR. The click chemistry allowed fixing DNA aptamers onto the surface of SPMB with an efficacy of up to 89.9%. The developed method more effectively isolates PSMA(+)SEVs than relevant antibody-based technology. The analysis of PC-related miRNA in the fraction of PSMA(+)SEVs was more sensitive and revealed distinct diagnostic potency (AUC: miR-145, 0.76; miR-221, 0.7; miR-451a, 0.65; and miR-141, 0.64) than analysis of the total SEV population. Thus, isolation of prostate-specific SEVs followed by analysis of vesicular miRNA might be a promising PC diagnosis method.

Purpose: Developing new and efficient approaches for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is an important issue. Circulating extracellular nanovesicles (ENVs) present a promising class of cancer markers. Cells of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas retain the molecular characteristics of colon epithelial cells, and the ENVs secreted by these cells may have colon-specific surface markers. We hypothesize that an increase in the number of ENVs carrying colon-specific markers could serve as a diagnostic criterion for colorectal cancer. Experimental design: Potential colon-specific markers were selected based on tissue-specific expression profile and cell surface membrane localization data. Plasma was collected from CRC patients (n = 48) and healthy donors (n = 50). The total population of ENVs was isolated with a two-phase polymer system. ENVs derived from colon epithelium cells were isolated using immune-beads with antibodies to colon-specific markers prior to labelling with antibodies against exosomal tetraspanins (CD63 and CD9) and quantification by flow cytometry. Results: The number of ENVs positive for single colon cancer markers was found to be significantly higher in the plasma of CRC patients compared with healthy donors. The efficacy of detection depends on the method of ENV labelling. The diagnostic efficacy was estimated by ROC analysis (the AUC varied between 0.71 and 0.79). The multiplexed isolation of colon-derived ENVs using immune-beads decorated with antibodies against five markers allowed for a further increase in the diagnostic potency of the method (AUC = 0.82). Conclusions: ENVs derived from colon epithelium may serve as markers of differentiated CRC (adenocarcinomas). The composition of ligands used for capturing colon-derived ENVs and their method of labelling are critical for the efficacy of this proposed diagnostic approach.

The quantification of the specific disease-associated populations of circulating extracellular membrane nanovesicles (ENVs) has opened up new opportunities for liquid biopsy in cancer and other chronic diseases. However, the sensitivity of such methods is mediated by an optimal combination of the isolation and labeling approaches, and is not yet sufficient for routine clinical application. The presented study aimed to develop, characterize, and explore a new approach to non-specific ENV staining, followed by size-exclusive chromatography (SEC), which allows us to increase the sensitivity of bead-assisted flow cytometry. Plasma from healthy donors was purified from large components, stained with lipophilic CM-Dil dye, and fractionated by means of SEC. The obtained fractions were analyzed in terms of particle size and concentration using NTA, as well as vesicular markers and plasma protein content via dot-blotting. We characterized the process of CM-Dil-stained plasma fractionation in detail and indicated the fractions with optimal characteristics. Finally, we explored the sensitivity of on-bead flow cytometry for the analysis of specific populations of plasma ENVs and demonstrated the advantages and limitations of the proposed technique.

The aim of the study was to explore the polyethylene glycol–dextran two-phase polymer system formed in human plasma to isolate the exosome-enriched fraction of plasma extracellular nanovesicles (ENVs). Systematic analysis was performed to determine the optimal combination of the polymer mixture parameters (molecular mass and concentration) that resulted in phase separation. The separated phases were analyzed by nanoparticle tracking analysis and Raman spectroscopy. The isolated vesicles were characterized by atomic force microscopy and dot blotting. In conclusion, the protein and microRNA contents of the isolated ENVs were assayed by flow cytometry and by reverse transcription followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), respectively. The presented results revealed the applicability of a new method for plasma ENV isolation and further analysis with a diagnostic purpose.

ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ ДИАГНОСТИКИ КОЛОРЕКТАЛЬНОГО РАКА С ПОМОЩЬЮ ДЕТЕКЦИИ ТКАНЕ-СПЕЦИФИЧНЫХ ВНЕКЛЕТОЧНЫХ НАНО-ВАЗИКУЛ

Background: The current approaches to distinguish follicular adenomas (FA) and follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) at the pre-operative stage have low predictive value. Liquid biopsy- based analysis of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) presents a promising diagnostic method. However, the extreme heterogeneity of plasma EV population hampers the development of new diagnostic tests. We hypothesize that the isolation of EVs with thyroid-specific surface molecules followed by miRNA analysis, may have improved diagnostic potency. Methods: The total population of EVs was isolated from the plasma of patients with FA (n = 30) and FTC (n = 30). Thyroid peroxidase (TPO)-positive EVs were isolated from the total populations using immune- beads. The miRNA from the TPO(+)EVs obtained from the plasma of FA and FTC patients was assayed by RT-PCR. The diagnostic potency of the selected miRNAs was estimated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: TPO(+)EVs can be efficiently isolated by immunobeads. The analysis of Let-7 family members in TPO(+)EVs allows one to distinguish FA and FTC with high accuracy (area under curve defined by ROC = 0.77–0.84). Conclusion: The isolation of TPO(+)EVs, followed by RT-qPCR analysis of Let-7 family members, may present a helpful approach to manage follicular nodules in the thyroid gland.

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