Extracellular vesicles spread the RNA interference signal of Tribolium castaneum TcA cells

Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2020 Jul:122:103377. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103377. Epub 2020 Apr 14.

Abstract

The potential utility of RNA interference (RNAi) to control insect pests and viral infections depends largely on the target organism's ability to systemically spread the RNAi response. The efficacy of systemic RNAi varies among insects, though it has been shown to be high in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. We identified an extracellular RNAi signal that is present in the culture medium of T. castaneum (TcA) cells after treatment with long dsRNA specific for a luciferase reporter gene. Luciferase-specific siRNAs were detected in extracellular vesicles (EVs) that were purified from the culture medium of these dsRNA-treated cells. Furthermore, by measuring the silencing of luciferase expression, we showed that these siRNA-containing EVs can act as an RNAi signal for recipient TcA cells. We have therefore shown that a systemic RNAi response upon dsRNA treatment can be effectively spread through EVs.

Keywords: Insect; Intercellular communication; RNAi; Small RNA; dsRNA; siRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Tribolium / physiology*

Substances

  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA, Small Interfering