Extracellular vesicles (EVs) not only eliminate unwanted molecular components, but also carry molecular cargo essential for specific intercellular communication mechanisms. As the molecular characteristics and biogenetical mechanisms of heterogeneous EVs are different, many studies have attempted to purify and characterize EVs. In particular, exosomal molecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, have been suggested as disease biomarkers or therapeutic targets in various diseases. However, several unresolved issues and challenges remain despite these promising results, including source variability before the isolation of exosomes from body fluids, the contamination of proteins during isolation, and methodological issues related to the purification of exosomes. This paper reviews the general characteristics of EVs, particularly microvesicles and exosomes, along with their physiological roles and contribution to the pathogenesis of major diseases, several widely used methods to isolate exosomes, and challenges in the development of disease biomarkers using the molecular contents of EVs isolated from body fluids.
Biomarkers* ; Body Fluids ; Exosomes ; Extracellular Vesicles* ; Nucleic Acids

An esophagomediastinal fistula is rare complication of nontuberculous mycobacterium infection. Here, we report the case of a patient with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with a fever, cough, and dyspnea, and was eventually diagnosed with nontuberculous mycobacterium infection. Computed tomography revealed multiple lymphadenopathy with an esophagomediastinal fistula. The patient was treated with anti-mycobacterial medications and endoscopic fistula closure.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Esophageal Fistula ; Fever ; Fistula* ; HIV* ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous*

OBJECTIVE: Retinoic acid is known to play a role in alveolar regeneration and is used in the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. Many factors involved in the pathogenesis of BPD induce apoptosis of the endothelium and epithelium of the premature lung. We hypothesized that VEGFR2 inhibition would increase apoptosis in the newborn lung and retinoic acid would decrease apoptosis in our model of inhibited lung growth. METHODS: SU1498, a VEGFR2 inhibitor or vehicle was given to three-day-old mice. Subsequent retinoic acid or vehicle injection was given for ten days for the duration of alveolarization. Morphometric analyses were performed. Apoptosis was assessed with TUNEL staining and Annexin V staining. Co-localization of apoptotic cells with endothelial and epithelial cells was performed. RESULTS: SU1498 injection reduced alveolar surface area and mean alveolar volume in newborn mice. Apoptosis was increased by three-fold in SU1498 injected mice. Apoptotic cells co-localized to endothelial and epithelial cells. Retinoic acid significantly reduced the degree of apoptosis by 50% in SU1498 injected mice and maintained lung development. CONCLUSION: VEGFR2 inhibition caused an arrest in lung development accompanied by an increase in apoptosis of endothelial and epithelial cells of the neonatal lung in mice. Subsequent retinoic acid treatment reduced apoptosis and we speculate that retinoic acid may preserve lung growth in bronchopulmonary dysplasia by inhibiting apoptosis in the neonatal lung.
Animals ; Annexin A5 ; Apoptosis ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Cinnamates ; Endothelium ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Lung ; Mice ; Regeneration ; Tretinoin

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease due to infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, and it can cause serious consequences for women's health. To study the virulence factors of this pathogen, T. vaginalis surface proteins were investigated using polyclonal antibodies specific to the membrane fractions of T. vaginalis. The T. vaginalis expression library was constructed by cloning the cDNA derived from mRNA of T. vaginalis into a phage lambda Uni-ZAP XR vector, and then used for immunoscreening with the anti-membrane proteins of T. vaginalis antibodies. The immunoreactive proteins identified included adhesion protein AP65-1, alpha-actinin, kinesin-associated protein, teneurin, and 2 independent hypothetical proteins. Immunofluorescence assays showed that AP65-1, one of the identified immunogenic clones, is prevalent in the whole body of T. vaginalis. This study led us to identify T. vaginalis proteins which may stimulate immune responses by human cells.
Animals ; Antigens, Protozoan/genetics/*immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; Rats ; Trichomonas Infections/parasitology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/genetics/*immunology