Extracellular vesicles derived from ODN-stimulated macrophages transfer and activate Cdc42 in recipient cells and thereby increase cellular permissiveness to EV uptake

Sci Adv. 2019 Jul 24;5(7):eaav1564. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aav1564. eCollection 2019 Jul.

Abstract

Endosomal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediate intracellular innate immunity via the recognition of DNA and RNA sequences. Recent work has reported a role for extracellular vesicles (EVs), known to transfer various nucleic acids, in uptake of TLR-activating molecules, raising speculation about possible roles of EVs in innate immune surveillance. Whether EV-mediated uptake is a general mechanism, however, was unresolved; and the molecular machinery that might be involved was unknown. We show that, when macrophages are stimulated with the TLR9 agonist CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN), the secreted EVs transport ODN into naïve macrophages and induce the release of chemokine TNF-α. In addition, these EVs transfer Cdc42 into recipient cells, resulting in further enhancement of their cellular uptake. Transport of ODN and Cdc42 from TLR9-activated macrophages to naïve cells via EVs exerts synergetic effects in propagation of the intracellular immune response, suggesting a general mechanism of EV-mediated uptake of pathogen-associated molecular patterns.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • DNA / genetics
  • Endosomes / genetics
  • Endosomes / immunology
  • Extracellular Vesicles / genetics*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / immunology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / genetics
  • Proteomics
  • RNA / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / genetics*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics*
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics*
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / immunology

Substances

  • CPG-oligonucleotide
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • TLR9 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • RNA
  • DNA
  • CDC42 protein, human
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein