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Loose Connective Tissue01:26

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Connective tissues are one of the four main tissue types in humans that are extensively present in the body. They are characterized by cells embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM) composed of a ground substance and three main types of protein fibers— collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers. The ground substance of connective tissues can range from a watery and jelly-like consistency to mineralized and hard. The wide variety of cells in the connective tissues include fibroblasts,...
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The connective tissues have different properties and functions in the human body. They are broadly categorized into proper, supporting, or fluid connective tissues.
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Isolation and Characterization of RNA-Containing Exosomes
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Connecting Exosomes and Connexins.

Joanna Gemel1, John Kilkus2, Glyn Dawson3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. jgemel@peds.bsd.uchicago.edu.

Cancers
|April 17, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microvascular endothelial cells secrete exosomes containing the gap junction protein connexin43. This suggests a novel mechanism for intercellular communication beyond direct cell contact.

Keywords:
connexinendothelial cellexosomeextracellular vesiclegap junctionintercellular communication

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Paper-Based Preconcentration and Isolation of Microvesicles and Exosomes
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Intercellular communication occurs via direct cell contact through gap junctions or through secreted molecules like hormones and extracellular vesicles.
  • Emerging evidence suggests potential overlap, with extracellular vesicles possibly carrying gap junction proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether microvascular endothelial cells secrete extracellular vesicles containing gap junction proteins.
  • To characterize the nature and contents of these secreted vesicles.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and analysis of extracellular vesicles from cultured microvascular endothelial cells.
  • Characterization of vesicle size (~120 nm) and protein content using markers for exosomes (flotillin-1, CD63, CD81, Alix) and gap junctions (connexin43).
  • Assessment of vesicle secretion under staurosporine treatment and analysis for absence of contaminants (Grp94, VE-cadherin).

Main Results:

  • Extracellular vesicles secreted by endothelial cells contained exosomal proteins and connexin43, a gap junction protein.
  • These vesicles did not contain an endoplasmic reticulum protein (Grp94) or an adherens junction protein (VE-cadherin).
  • Vesicle secretion was enhanced by staurosporine treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Connexin43 can be secreted within extracellular vesicles possessing exosome-like properties.
  • The precise role of vesicular connexin43 remains to be elucidated but may involve exosome-recipient cell interactions or signaling.