Abstract

Isolation of Human Urine Exosomes: Potential Markers For Disease Conditions

Antonio De Maio, Professor, University of California-San Diego

The role of exosomes or extracellular vesicles as mediators of intercellular communication has gained a great deal of attention, particularly within pathological conditions. In addition, interest in them has emerged as potential biomarkers of pathological conditions. Exosomes have been detected in a variety of bodily fluids, such as blood, saliva, and urine. The study of exosomes in urine samples is ideal for the detection of disease markers because they can be easily obtained in abundant quantities in a non-invasive and painless fashion. We have systematically optimized the collection of human urine samples for the isolation of exosomes by differential centrifugation, including the time of collection, reproducibility, and conditions for storage. We have observed that glycoproteins within the membrane of exosomes provide a specific pattern in healthy individuals that opens the possibility that alteration in their presence may result in a disease signature. Based on this investigation, we are in conditions to evaluate the use of urine exosomes as markers for a variety of diseases.