Extracellular vesicles as mediators and markers for aging

National Institute On Aging

Investigators

Abstract

We have established the conditions to detect and quantify the overall yield of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and DNA cargo from human plasma and mammalian cell culture conditioned media. We observed higher amounts of repetitive DNA cargo in EVs after various genome insults. In addition, we discovered altered EV characteristics including increased concentration and decreased size in mouse models in aging. In collaboration with Drs. Michele K. Evans and Dimitrios Kapogiannis, we have begun to measure the EV amount in both elderly population and disease cohort and assess the potential of using EVs as a biomarker of aging and age-related disorders. Given the central role of EVs in mediating intercellular communication and inflammation, we are investigating whether genome damage and repair deficit affect EV levels and EV-associated cargo contents within circulating EVs. Our ongoing project is also aimed at investigating the biological functions of EVs in mediating inflammatory signaling and neurotoxicity in defined human and mouse models. Overall, this study will enhance our understanding of the connection between the alteration of EVs and the activation of inflammatory cytokine signaling in the tissue microenvironments during aging.