Noninvasive in vivo monitoring of extracellular vesicles

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1098:249-58. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-718-1_19.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes and microvesicles are nanometer-sized vesicles released by cells to deliver lipids, cellular proteins, mRNAs, and noncoding RNAs, thereby facilitating intercellular communication without direct cell-to-cell contacts. Due to their nanoscale size, EVs have been visualized under microscopy in vitro. We here describe a strategy to label EVs with Gaussia luciferase for noninvasive bioluminescence imaging and monitoring of systemically administered EVs in vivo.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Fractionation
  • Copepoda / enzymology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Luminescent Measurements*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Transport Vesicles / metabolism*

Substances

  • Luciferases