Inflammation-induced endothelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles modulate the cellular status of pericytes

Sci Rep. 2015 Feb 17:5:8505. doi: 10.1038/srep08505.

Abstract

Emerging lines of evidence have shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate cell-to-cell communication by exporting encapsulated materials, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), to target cells. Endothelial cell-derived EVs (E-EVs) are upregulated in circulating blood in different pathological conditions; however, the characteristics and the role of these E-EVs are not yet well understood. In vitro studies were conducted to determine the role of inflammation-induced E-EVs in the cell-to-cell communication between vascular endothelial cells and pericytes/vSMCs. Stimulation with inflammatory cytokines and endotoxin immediately induced release of shedding type E-EVs from the vascular endothelial cells, and flow cytometry showed that the induction was dose dependent. MiRNA array analyses revealed that group of miRNAs were specifically increased in the inflammation-induced E-EVs. E-EVs added to the culture media of cerebrovascular pericytes were incorporated into the cells. The E-EV-supplemented cells showed highly induced mRNA and protein expression of VEGF-B, which was assumed to be a downstream target of the miRNA that was increased within the E-EVs after inflammatory stimulation. The results suggest that E-EVs mediate inflammation-induced endothelial cell-pericyte/vSMC communication, and the miRNAs encapsulated within the E-EVs may play a role in regulating target cell function. E-EVs may be new therapeutic targets for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Communication
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Pericytes / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger