Acetylcholinesterase is not a generic marker of extracellular vesicles

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is found in abundance in reticulocytes and neurons and was developed as a marker of reticulocyte EVs in the 1970s. Easily, quickly, and cheaply assayed, AChE activity has more recently been proposed as a generic marker for small extracellular vesicles (sEV) or exosomes, and as a negative marker of HIV-1 virions. To evaluate these proposed uses of AChE activity, we examined data from different EV and virus isolation methods using T-lymphocytic (H9, PM1 and Jurkat) and promonocytic (U937) cell lines grown in culture conditions that differed by serum content. When EVs were isolated by differential ultracentrifugation, no correlation between AChE activity and particle count was observed. AChE activity was detected in non-conditioned medium when serum was added, and most of this activity resided in soluble fractions and could not be pelleted by centrifugation. The serum-derived pelletable AChE protein was not completely eliminated from culture medium by overnight ultracentrifugation; however, a serum “extra-depletion” protocol, in which a portion of the supernatant was left undisturbed during harvesting, achieved near-complete depletion. In conditioned medium also, only small percentages of AChE activity could be pelleted together with particles. Furthermore, no consistent enrichment of AChE activity in sEV fractions was observed. Little if any AChE activity is produced by the cells we examined, and this activity was mainly present in non-vesicular structures, as shown by electron microscopy. Size-exclusion chromatography and iodixanol gradient separation showed that AChE activity overlaps only minimally with EV-enriched fractions. AChE activity likely betrays exposure to blood products and not EV abundance, echoing the MISEV 2014 and 2018 guidelines and other publications. Additional experiments may be merited to validate these results for other cell types and biological fluids other than blood.Fil: Liao, Zhaohao. University Johns Hopkins; Estados UnidosFil: Martin Jaular, Lorena. Inserm; Francia. PSL Research University; FranciaFil: Soueidi, Estelle. Inserm; Francia. PSL Research University; FranciaFil: Jouve, Mabel. PSL Research University; FranciaFil: Muth, Dillon C.. University Johns Hopkins; Estados UnidosFil: Schøyen, Tine H.. University Johns Hopkins; Estados UnidosFil: Seale, Tessa. University Johns Hopkins; Estados UnidosFil: Haughey, Norman J.. University Johns Hopkins; Estados UnidosFil: Ostrowski, Matias. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Théry, Clotilde. PSL Research University; FranciaFil: Witwer, Kenneth W.. University Johns Hopkins; Estados Unido

Specificities of exosome versus small ectosome secretion revealed by live intracellular tracking of CD63 and CD9.

Despite their roles in intercellular communications, the different populations of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their secretion mechanisms are not fully characterized: how and to what extent EVs form as intraluminal vesicles of endocytic compartments (exosomes), or at the plasma membrane (PM) (ectosomes) remains unclear. Here we follow intracellular trafficking of the EV markers CD9 and CD63 from the endoplasmic reticulum to their residency compartment, respectively PM and late endosomes. We observe transient co-localization at both places, before they finally segregate. CD9 and a mutant CD63 stabilized at the PM are more abundantly released in EVs than CD63. Thus, in HeLa cells, ectosomes are more prominent than exosomes. By comparative proteomic analysis and differential response to neutralization of endosomal pH, we identify a few surface proteins likely specific of either exosomes (LAMP1) or ectosomes (BSG, SLC3A2). Our work sets the path for molecular and functional discrimination of exosomes and small ectosomes in any cell type

HIV-1 assembly in macrophages

The molecular mechanisms involved in the assembly of newly synthesized Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) particles are poorly understood. Most of the work on HIV-1 assembly has been performed in T cells in which viral particle budding and assembly take place at the plasma membrane. In contrast, few studies have been performed on macrophages, the other major target of HIV-1. Infected macrophages represent a viral reservoir and probably play a key role in HIV-1 physiopathology. Indeed macrophages retain infectious particles for long periods of time, keeping them protected from anti-viral immune response or drug treatments. Here, we present an overview of what is known about HIV-1 assembly in macrophages as compared to T lymphocytes or cell lines

Purification of LAT containing membranes from resting and activated T lymphocytes

International audienceIn T lymphocytes, the immune synapse is an active zone of vesicular traffic. Directional transport of vesicular receptors and signaling molecules from or to the immune synapse has been shown to play an important role in T-cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction. However, how vesicular trafficking is regulating the activation of T cells is still a burning question, and the characterization of these intracellular compartments remains the first step to understand this process. We describe herein a protocol, which combines a separation of membranes on flotation gradient with an affinity purification of Strep-tagged fusion transmembrane proteins with Strep-Tactin® resin, allowing the purification of membranes containing the Strep-tagged molecule of interest. By keeping the membranes intact, this protocol leads to the purification of molecules physically associated with the Strep-tagged protein as well as of molecules present in the same membrane compartment: transmembrane proteins, proteins strongly associated with the membranes, and luminal proteins. The example shown herein is the purification of membrane compartment prepared from T lymphocytes expressing LAT fused to a Strep-tag

Single point mutation in the bin/amphiphysin/RVS (BAR) sequence of endophilin impairs dimerization, membrane shaping, and SRC homology 3 domain-mediated partnership.

International audienceBin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domain-containing proteins are essential players in the dynamics of intracellular compartments. The BAR domain is an evolutionarily conserved dimeric module characterized by a crescent-shaped structure whose intrinsic curvature, flexibility and ability to assemble into highly ordered oligomers, contribute to inducing curvature of target membranes. Endophilins, diverging into A and B sub-groups, are BAR and SH3 domain-containing proteins. They exert activities in membrane dynamic processes such as endocytosis, autophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and permeabilization during apoptosis. Here, we report on the involvement of the third α-helix of endophilins A BAR sequence in dimerization and identify leucine 215 as a key residue within a network of hydrophobic interactions stabilizing the entire BAR dimer interface. With the combination of amino-terminal truncation retaining the high dimerization capacity of the third α-helices of endophilins A and leucine 215 substitution by aspartate (L215D), we demonstrate the essential role of BAR-sequence mediated dimerization on SH3 domain partnership. In comparison to wild type, full-length endophilin A2 heterodimers with one protomer bearing the L215D substitution, exhibit very significant changes in membrane-binding and shaping activities as well as dramatic decrease of SH3 domain partnership. This suggests that subtle changes in the conformation and/or rigidity of the BAR domain impact on both the control of membrane curvature and downstream binding to effectors. Finally, we show that expression, in mammalian cells, of endophilin A2 bearing the L215D substitution, impairs the endocytic recycling of transferrin receptors

HIV-1 buds and accumulates in "nonacidic" endosomes of macrophages.

International audienceMacrophages represent viral reservoirs in HIV-1-infected patients and accumulate viral particles within an endosomal compartment where they remain infectious for long periods of time. To determine how HIV-1 survives in endocytic compartments that become highly acidic and proteolytic and to study the nature of these virus-containing compartments, we carried out an ultrastructural study on HIV-1-infected primary macrophages. The endosomal compartments contain newly formed virions rather than internalized ones. In contrast to endocytic compartments free of viral proteins within the same infected cells, the virus containing compartments do not acidify. The lack of acidification is associated with an inability to recruit the proton pump vacuolar ATPase into the viral assembly compartment. This may prevent its fusion with lysosomes, since acidification is required for the maturation of endosomes. Thus, HIV-1 has developed a strategy for survival within infected macrophages involving prevention of acidification within a devoted endocytic virus assembly compartment

Prospective Cohort Study of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Infections in Argentinean Children

Fil: Viboud, Gloria I. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Jouve, Mabel J. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Binsztein, Norma. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Vergara, Marta. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Cátedra de Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Rivas, Marta. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Quiroga, Marina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Cátedra de Bacteriología; Argentina.Fil: Svennerholm, Ann-Mari. University of Göteborg. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology; Suiza.In a follow-up study, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections in 145 children from two communities located in northeastern Argentina were monitored for 2 years. The occurrence of diarrhea was monitored by weekly household visits. Of 730 fecal specimens collected, 137 (19%) corresponded to diarrheal episodes. ETEC was isolated from a significantly higher proportion of symptomatic (18.3%) than asymptomatic (13.3%) children (P 5 0.04541). Individuals of up to 24 months of age were found to have a higher risk of developing ETEC diarrhea than older children (odds ratio [OR], 3.872; P 5 0.00021). When the toxin profiles were considered, only heat stable enterotoxin (ST)-producing ETEC was directly associated with diarrhea (P 5 0.00035). Fifty-five percent of the ETEC isolated from symptomatic children and 19% of the ETEC isolated from asymptomatic children expressed one of the colonization factors (CFs) investigated, i.e., CF antigen I (CFA/I), CFA/II, CFA/III, and CFA/IV; coli surface antigens CS7 and CS17; and putative CFs PCFO159, PCFO166, and PCFO20, indicating a clear association between diarrhea and ETEC strains that carry these factors (P 5 0.0000034). The most frequently identified CFs were CFA/IV (16%), CFA/I (10%), and CS17 (9%). CFs were mostly associated with ETEC strains that produce ST and both heat-labile enterotoxin and ST. Logistic regression analysis, applied to remove confounding effects, revealed that the expression of CFs was associated with illness independently of the toxin type (OR, 4.81; P 5 0.0003). When each CF was considered separately, CS17 was the only factor independently associated with illness (OR, 16.6; P 5 0.0151). Most CFs (the exception was CFA/IV) fell within a limited array of serotypes, while the CF-negative isolates belonged to many different O:H types. These results demonstrate that some CFs are risk factors for the development of ETEC diarrhea