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Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Axis Controls Renal Extracellular Vesicle Production and Protein Content

Fahad Zadjali1,2,3, Prashant Kumar2,3, Ying Yao2,3

  • 1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Muscat 123, Oman.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 7, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Loss of Tsc2 gene in mouse kidney cells significantly increases extracellular vesicle (EV) production. These EVs, altered in protein content, may play a role in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) pathogenesis and cyst formation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 genes.
  • TSC proteins regulate the mTORC1 pathway, a key controller of cell growth and proliferation.
  • Dysregulation of mTORC1 signaling is implicated in the development of various TSC-related pathologies, including renal cyst formation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of Tsc2 gene loss on extracellular vesicle (EV) production in mouse inner medullary collecting duct (mIMCD) cells.
  • To characterize the physical and protein properties of EVs produced by Tsc2-deficient cells.
  • To explore the potential role of these EVs in TSC pathogenesis and cystogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Tsc2 gene deletion in mIMCD cells.
  • Optimization of EV isolation using size exclusion chromatography.
  • Characterization of EV size and purity using electron microscopy, tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS), and dynamic light scattering (DLS).
  • Analysis of EV protein content via Western blot and proteomic analysis.

Main Results:

  • Tsc2 gene deletion led to a greater than two-fold increase in EV production.
  • Isolated EVs were confirmed to be pure, spherical, and heterogeneous in size (100-250 nm predominantly).
  • EVs contained specific protein markers (Alix, TSG101, CD63, CD81, CD9) and Arl13b, a cilia-related protein.
  • Proteomic analysis revealed significant differences in protein content between EVs from Tsc2-intact and Tsc2-deleted cells, correlating with increased production.

Conclusions:

  • Loss of Tsc2 function enhances EV production in mIMCD cells.
  • Altered EV production and protein cargo may contribute to tissue homeostasis disruption and disease in TSC.
  • EVs from TSC renal epithelia could serve as biomarkers for understanding cystogenesis and developing therapeutic strategies.
Keywords:
TSC complex, extracellular vesicles (EVs), mTORC1, renal cyst

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