Skip to main content
Log in

Astrocytes and Glioblastoma cells release exosomes carrying mtDNA

  • Basic Neurosciences, Genetics and Immunology - Rapid Communication
  • Published:
Journal of Neural Transmission Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cells can exchange information not only by means of chemical and/or electrical signals, but also via microvesicles released into the intercellular space. The present paper, for the first time, provides evidence that Glioblastoma and Astrocyte cells release microvesicles, which carry mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). These microvesicles have been characterised as exosomes in view of the presence of some protein markers of exosomes, such as Tsg101, CD9 and Alix. Thus, the important finding has been obtained that bonafide exosomes, constitutively released by Glioblastoma cells and Astrocytes, can carry mtDNA, which can be, therefore, transferred between cells. This datum may help the understanding of some diseases due to mitochondrial alterations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  • Agnati LF, Guidolin D, Baluska F, Leo G, Barlow PW, Carone C, Genedani S (2009) A new hypothesis of pathogenesis based on the divorce between mitochondria and their host cells: possible relevances for the Alzheimer’s disease. Curr Alzheimer Res (in press)

  • Barral AM, von Herrath MG (2005) Exosomes: specific intercellular nano-shuttles. Curr Immunol Rev 1:1–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belting M, Wittrup A (2008) Nanotubes, exosomes, and nucleic acid-binding peptides provide novel mechanisms of intercellular communication in eukaryotic cells: implications in health and disease. J Cell Biol 183:1187–1191

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cocucci E, Racchetti G, Meldolesi J (2009) Shedding microvesicles: artefacts no more. Trends Cell Biol 19:43–51

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fevrier B, Raposo G (2004) Exosomes: endosomal-derived vesicles shipping extracellular messages. Curr Opin Cell Biol 16:415–421

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerdes HH, Bukoreshtliev NV, Barroso JF (2007) Tunneling nanotubes: a new route for the exchange of components between animal cells. FEBS Lett 581:2194–2201

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jansen FH, Krijgsveld J, van Rijswijk A, van den Bemd GJ, van den Berg MS, van Weerden WM, Willemsen R, Dekker LJ, Luider TM, Jenster G (2009) Exosomal secretion of cytoplasmic prostate cancer xenograft-derived proteins. Mol Cell Proteomics 8:1192–1205

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lakkaraju A, Rodriguez-Boulan E (2008) Itinerant exosomes: emerging roles in cell and tissue polarity. Trends Cell Biol 18:199–209

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mallegol J, Van Niel G, Lebreton C, Lepelletier Y, Candalh C, Dugave C, Heath JK, Raposo G, Cerf-Bensussan N, Heyman M (2007) T84-intestinal epithelial exosomes bear MHC class II/peptide complexes potentiating antigen presentation by dendritic cells. Gastroenterology 132:1866–1876

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mears R, Craven RA, Hanrahan S, Totty N, Upton C, Young SL, Patel P, Selby PJ, Banks RE (2004) Proteomic analysis of melanoma-derived exosomes by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Proteomics 4:4019–4031

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raiborg C, Rusten TE, Stenmark H (2003) Protein sorting into multivesicular endosomes. Curr Opin Cell Biol 15:446–455

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rajendran L, Honsho M, Zahn TR, Keller P, Geiger KD, Verkade P, Simons K (2006) Alzheimer’s disease beta-amyloid peptides are released in association with exosomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:11172–11177

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rustom A, Saffrich R, Markovic I, Walther P, Gerdes HH (2004) Nanotubular highways for intercellular organelle transport. Science 303:1007–1010

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schapira AH (2006) Mitochondrial disease. Lancet 368:70–82

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schorey JS, Bhatnagar S (2008) Exosome function: from tumor immunology to pathogen biology. Traffic 9:871–881

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simons M, Raposo G (2009) Exosomes—vesicular carriers for intercellular communication. Curr Opin Cell Biol May 11. [Epub ahead of print]

  • Skog J, Wurdinger T, van Rijn S, Meijer DH, Gainche L, Sena-Esteves M, Curry WT Jr, Carter BS, Krichevsky AM, Breakefield XO (2008) Glioblastoma microvesicles transport RNA and proteins that promote tumour growth and provide diagnostic biomarkers. Nat Cell Biol 10:1470–1476

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smalheiser NR (2007) Exosomal transfer of proteins and RNAs at synapses in the nervous system. Biol Direct 2:35

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Staubach S, Razawi H, Hanisch FG (2009) Proteomics of MUC1-containing lipid rafts from plasma membranes and exosomes of human breast carcinoma cells MCF-7. Proteomics 9:2820–2835

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Niel G, Porto-Carreiro I, Simoes S, Raposo G (2006) Exosomes: a common pathway for a specialized function. J Biochem 140:13–21

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luigi Francesco Agnati.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guescini, M., Genedani, S., Stocchi, V. et al. Astrocytes and Glioblastoma cells release exosomes carrying mtDNA. J Neural Transm 117, 1–4 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-009-0288-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-009-0288-8

Keywords

Navigation