Exosome Non-targeted Metabolomics

Exosomes (EX) are a group of heterogeneous extracellular vesicles (EVs) similar in size to viruses (30–150 nm). Various cell types, including red blood cells, B cells, T cells, mast cells, platelets, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, adipocytes, epithelial cells, muscle, dendritic cells, and tumor cells, can release exosomes. These heterogeneous vesicles are released into the extracellular space through the fusion of multivesicular bodies, which are formed by inward budding of the endosomal membrane, with the plasma membrane. They are found in extracellular culture media (in vitro) and bodily fluids (in vivo), such as blood, urine, saliva, breast milk, ascites, nasal secretions, tears, amniotic fluid, synovial fluid, lymph, cerebrospinal fluid, and semen. In both normal and pathological states, exosomes play a crucial role in intercellular communication by reaching recipient cells in the local environment (paracrine mode) or being transported to distant tissues via the circulatory system (endocrine mode). In recent years, metabolomics research on exosomes present in extracellular vesicles has gradually developed, and there is increasing interest in the study of exosome metabolomics.

Exosome Non-Targeted Metabolomics

Existing data indicate that the lipid composition of exosomes derived from different cells shows significant differences. For example, ceramide is enriched in exosomes produced by tumor cells but absent in exosomes from red blood cells. Research on the complete metabolites present in exosomes is still limited. The metabolome of exosomes includes not only lipids but also amino acids, organic acids, cyclitols, carnitines, aromatic compounds, vitamins, sugars and their complexes, as well as nucleotides and nucleosides.

Exosomes play an important role in communication between cancer cells and their microenvironment. Research shows that exosomes released by cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) can regulate the metabolism of cancer cells. When cancer cells are cultured in the presence of extracellular vesicles (EVs) produced by CAFs from prostate cancer (PCa) patients, mitochondrial activity is downregulated, and glucose uptake and glycolysis are increased. The downregulation of mitochondrial activity and increases in PC3 were observed. The elevated levels of pyruvate and lactate were associated with decreased levels of fumarate, malate, α-ketoglutarate, and glutamate. This confirms that extracellular vesicles (EVs) originating from fibroblast CAFs stimulate the Warburg effect in recipient cancer cells. The main components of the EVs metabolome are the main components of the membrane: glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids, fatty acid esters, amides and alcohols, nucleotides and derivatives, amino acids and eicosanoids, steroids, and isoprenoids.

Biotech company Baiteipack utilizes the latest Thermo Obitrap Fusion Lumos mass spectrometer combined with nanoLC-MS/MS nano liquid chromatography to provide exosome non-targeted metabolomics services, helping you quickly and effectively obtain the most information from exosomes.

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Non-Targeted Metabolomics Analysis
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