EV-COMM: A database of interspecies and intercellular interactions mediated by extracellular vesicles

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Inter-organismal interactions are vital for individual and community health.
• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are key mediators of intra- and inter-species communication, transporting molecular cargoes.
• Existing databases lack comprehensive donor and recipient information for EV-mediated interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive database (EV-COMM) for EV-mediated interactions.
• To systematically compile and structure data on EV communication, including donor/recipient details and functional cargoes.
• To facilitate understanding of cell-cell and species-species interactions mediated by EVs.

Main Methods:

• Compiled EV-mediated interaction records with structured donor and recipient information (cell type, tissue/organ, species).
• Included data on EV isolation/identification methods, functional cargoes (e.g., microRNA), and physiological/pathological contexts.
• Developed a web interface for browsing, searching, visualizing, and downloading interaction data.

Main Results:

• The EV-COMM database contains 1481 records: 971 cell-cell and 510 cross-species interactions.
• Interactions span over 40 tissues/organs, providing detailed insights into EV communication.
• The database links microRNA cargoes to a prediction server for potential effect analysis.

Conclusions:

• EV-COMM is the first comprehensive database focused on EV-mediated donor-recipient interactions.
• It serves as a valuable tool for exploring and validating EV-mediated communication across cells and species.
• The database is freely accessible and will be continuously updated.