Affinity enrichment of extracellular vesicles from plasma reveals mRNA changes associated with acute ischemic stroke

Commun Biol. 2020 Oct 26;3(1):613. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01336-y.

Abstract

Currently there is no in vitro diagnostic test for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), yet rapid diagnosis is crucial for effective thrombolytic treatment. We previously demonstrated the utility of CD8(+) T-cells' mRNA expression for AIS detection; however extracellular vesicles (EVs) were not evaluated as a source of mRNA for AIS testing. We now report a microfluidic device for the rapid and efficient affinity-enrichment of CD8(+) EVs and subsequent EV's mRNA analysis using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). The microfluidic device contains a dense array of micropillars modified with anti-CD8α monoclonal antibodies that enriched 158 ± 10 nm sized EVs at 4.3 ± 2.1 × 109 particles/100 µL of plasma. Analysis of mRNA from CD8(+) EVs and their parental T-cells revealed correlation in the expression for AIS-specific genes in both cell lines and healthy donors. In a blinded study, 80% test positivity for AIS patients and controls was revealed with a total analysis time of 3.7 h.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers
  • Brain Ischemia / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Extracellular Vesicles / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Stroke / diagnosis*
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • RNA, Messenger