Exosome / Endocytosis / Phagocytosis | Reagent and Kit Selection Guide

Science Note

[Feb. 6, 2024]                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Previous Science Note
Membrane Trafficking: Organizer of Intra- and Extracellular Homeostasis

Membrane trafficking involves vital processes such as phagocytosis, endocytosis, and exocytosis, each of which plays a critical role in cellular homeostasis. Phagocytosis and endocytosis allow cells to ingest external particles and fluids, facilitating nutrient uptake and the removal of pathogens or debris, which is critical for cellular health and immune response. Exocytosis, on the other hand, allows cells to expel waste products and secrete signaling molecules that are essential for communication and functional coordination within tissues. These coordinated processes ensure that the cell maintains a balanced internal environment, adapts to changing external conditions, and maintains cellular integrity and function. 

CTLA-4 blockade induces a microglia-Th1 cell partnership that stimulates microglia phagocytosis and anti-tumor function in glioblastoma
Click here for the original article: Dan Chen, et. al., Immunity, 2023.

Stress granules plug and stabilize damaged endolysosomal membranes
Click here for the original article: Claudio Bussi et. al., Nature, 2024.

A phosphoinositide switch mediates exocyst recruitment to multivesicular endosomes for exosome secretion
Click here for the original article: Di-Ao Liu et. al., Nature Communications, 2023.

Point of Interest
- αCTLA-4 therapy promotes the induction of protective CD4+ Th1 cells against mesenchymal glioblastomas.

- IFNγ, derived from Th1 cells, stimulates the induction of MHC-II+ microglia, which sustains Th1-mediated anti-glioma immunity.

- Th1 cells enhance microglial phagocytosis of gliomas through AXL-MER receptor signaling.

- The presence of microglia and MHC-II expression are associated with protective outcomes in human glioblastoma.

Point of Interest
- Stress granule formation and membrane stabilization allow efficient repair of damaged endolysosomes.

- This process requires both ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport)-dependent and independent mechanisms.  

- Blocking stress granule formation in human macrophages creates a permissive environment for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which exploits endomembrane damage to survive in the host.

Point of Interest
- A sequential conversion of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) to phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI(4)P) catalyzed by myotubularin 1.

- Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase type IIα on the surface of MVEs mediates the recruitment of the exocyst complex.

- The exocyst targets MVEs to the plasma membrane for exosome secretion.

- Disruption of PI(4)P generation or exocyst function blocked exosomal secretion of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), a key immune checkpoint protein in tumor cells, and led to its accumulation in lysosomes.
Related Techniques
           Phagocytosis Assay AcidSensor Labeling Kit – Endocytic Internalization Assay and Cellstain- Calcein-AM solution
           Endocytosis Detection detection ECGreen-Endocytosis Detection
           Exosome Labeling ExoSparkler Exosome Membrane Labeling Kit-Green / Red / Deep Red
           Plasma Membrane Staining PlasMem Bright Green / Red
           Autophagy detection DAPGreen / DAPRed (Autophagosome detection), DALGreen (Autolysosome detection)
           Lipid droplets detection Lipi-Blue / Green / Red / Deep Red
           Antibody/Protein labeling with fast and
           high recovery		 Fluorescein, Biotin, and Peroxidase Labeling Kit - NH2
Related Applications

Phagocytosis assay of labeled apoptotic cells in THP-1 cells

 

 

AcidSensor-labeled substances are taken up by cells and their fluorescence increases when they reach acidic organelles such as lysosomes. Taking advantage of this property, we evaluate the phagocytic activity of apoptotic cells by co-culturing AcidSensor-labeled apoptotic cells with Calcein-labeled THP-1 macrophages.  As a result, Calcein (Green) / AcidSensor (Deep red) double-positive cells, indicating THP-1 macrophages phagocytosing apoptotic cells, were observed by flow cytometry (Fig. 1a). Furthermore, when the phagocytosis of THP-1 macrophages was inhibited by Cytochalasin D, the percentage of double-positive cells decreased (Fig. 1b and 1c), confirming that the assay system can accurately evaluate phagocytosis.

A recent report reveals that inhibition of mitochondrial function induces a switch to glycolysis and reduces phagocytosis in cultured microglia, resident macrophages in the central nervous system*. To replicate this result, phagocytosis assays were performed using mitochondria-inhibited THP-1 macrophages. The results show that FCCP, a potent uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, decreases mitochondrial membrane potential (MT-1, Red) of THP-1 macrophages (Fig. 2) and reduces phagocytosis (Fig. 3).

*Lauren H. Fairley, et al., PNAS (2023)


Products in Use
① AcidSensor Labeling Kit – Endocytic Internalization Assay [code: A558]
② -Cellstain- Calcein-AM solution [code: C396]
③ MT-1 MitoMP Detection Kit [code: MT13]

[Experimental Procedure]

Preparation of AcidSensor-labeled apoptotic cells (day before assay)

1. Add 10 μl of DMSO to NH2-Reactive AcidSensor and dissolve. 5 μl NH2-Reactive AcidSensor solution was added to 5 ml HBSS to make the Working solution (1000-fold dilution).
2. Wash Jurkat cells twice with HBSS.
3. Jurkat cells (5×107 cells) were transferred to the tube and the supernatant was removed after centrifugation.
4. Add the Working solution to the tube with Jurkat cells (5×107 cells) and suspend.
5. Incubate at 37°C for 30 minutes for labeling with AcidSensor.
6. After labeling, the cells were washed twice with HBSS.
7. AcidSensor-labeled Jurkat cells were suspended in RPMI medium with 10% FBS added with 0.5 μM staurosporine.
8. Apoptosis was induced by o/n culture in an incubator (37°C, 5% CO2) for 18 hours.
9. After induction of apoptosis, the cells were washed with culture medium and used for the phagocytosis assay.

 

Phagocytosis assay using THP-1 macrophages

1. To differentiate THP-1 cells into macrophages, THP-1 cells were seeded into 6 well plates at 1x106 cells/well and incubated with 100 nM PMA for 3 days in an incubator.
2. After washing THP-1 macrophages twice with HBSS, Calcein-AM (Code: C396, 0.5 μg/ml) and MT-1 (Code: MT13, 1000-fold dilution) included HBSS solution was added to the wells and incubated in the incubator for 30 minutes.
3. Wash twice with a culture medium.
4. The cells were incubated with 10 μM Cytochalasin D for 1 hour or 5 μM FCCP for 30 minutes in the incubator.
5. After twice washing with culture medium, AcidSensor-labeled apoptotic cells (3x106 cells/well) were added to the well with or without Cytochalasin D or FCCP. The cells were incubated in the incubator for 4 hours.
6. Wash twice with HBSS.
7. Add 500 μl Imaging buffer solution (Code: MT13) and collect THP-1 macrophages from plates with a cell scraper.
8.Cell suspensions were analyzed by flow cytometry.

 

 

Selesction Guide

~ Features ~

  • Applicable to live and fixed cells
  • High retentivity of reagents with low toxicity
  • Just add reagents into medium

Low toxicity, No washing, and High retentivity

Comparison with other products

PlasMem Bright Series has low cytotoxicity, and high membrane retention of dyes and can be used in various experiments using live and fixed cells.

Clear visualization of plasma membrane

Observe morphology of neuron (differentiated SH-SY5Y cells) and localization of mitochondria in axon.

High retentivity on plasma membrane

HeLa cells stained with each plasma membrane staining reagent were incubated for 24 hrs and each the resulting fluorescent image was compared. PlasMem Bright series had higher retentivity in plasma membrane than other products.

Product Size Product Code
Visualization of Cell membrane Plasma Membrane Staining Dyes
PlasMem Bright Green 100 µl x 1 P504-10
PlasMem Bright Red 100 µl x 1 P505-10

Note: 1 tube (100 µl), 10 assays at 35 mm dish, 10 assays at μ-Slide 8 well

Track endosome

~ Features ~

  • Precise visualization of endocytosis
  • Track endocytosis using live cells
  • High responsiveness to pH change

ECGreen is a pH dependent fluorescence dye that localizes to vesicle membrane. The visualization of endocytosis using the ECGreen is a more direct method than fluorescent analogs and allows visualization endocytosis from the stage of early endosomes.

 Overall, this results in increased oxidative stress and accelerated cellular damage.

Stain vesicle membrane precisely

Other companies (a fluorescent analog): intravesicular staining

Fluorescent Dye-Dextran Conjugates or membrane staining reagents are used to visualize endocytosis. However, they have limitations in observing dynamics of endosomes in live cells in terms of precision of staining or retentivity of reagent. ECGreen is the reagent that over comes the limitations.

Clear visualization of intracellular vesicular trafficking

It has been known that Wortmannin inhibits the recycling of endosomes or transition to lysosomes and causes enlargement of endosomes. To evaluate these changes caused by Wortmannin, early endosomes were co-stained by ECGreen and Rab5-RFP (marker protein of early endosomes), and lysosomes were co-stained by ECGreen and lysosome staining reagent. In adding Wortmannin, ECGreen was colocalized with enlarged endosomes (Rab5-RFP). On the other hand, ECGreen wasn’t colocalized with lysosomes.

Product Size Product Code
Visualization of Endocytosis Endocytosis Detection Dye
ECGreen-Endocytosis Detection 40 µl x 1 E296-10

Note:1 tube (40 µl), 20 assays at 35 mm dish, 20 assays at μ-Slide 8 well

Exosome Membrane/Protein Fluorescence Labeling Kit

~ Features ~

  • Not allow extracellular aggregation
  • Cover steps from fluorescence labeling to purification
  • Little effect on exosome properties

Recent findings suggest that exosomes, a form of extracellular vesicle (EV), contribute to malignant transformation and the metastasis of cancer. Consequently, intercellular communication via exosomes is attracting considerable interest in the scientific community.
To shed light on such communication, labeling techniques based on fluorescent dyes have been used. Fluorescent dyes that label the cellular membrane are commonly used for exosome labeling because the lipid bilayer in exosomes is a good target for labeling.

ExoSparkler series does not allow extracellular aggregation

Exosomes stained with ExoSparkler’s Mem Dye-Deep Red or an alternative product (green or red) were added to each well containing HeLa cells. The labeled exosomes taken into HeLa cells were observed by fluorescent microscopy. As a result, extracellular fluorescent spots suspected of dye aggregations were seen in each well containing the exosomes stained with the alternative product (green or red).


Mem Dye-Deep Red (Purple): Ex 640 nm/Em 640-760 nm
Alternative Product “P” (Green): Ex 561 nm/Em 560-620 nm
Alternative Product “P” (Red): Ex 640 nm/Em 650-700 nm

Mem Dye-Deep Red and Product “P” (Green and Red) in aqueous solution were analyzed by NTA (nanoparticle tracking analysis) to investigate the generation of aggregates. No aggregation was observed in the experiments with Mem Dyes, although Product “P” (Green and Red) produced dye-to-dye aggregates (100–500 nm size).
Instrument: LM10-HSBFT 14 (Nanosight)

In Mem Dye-Green, Red, the aggregation of the dye was not confirmed as in Mem Dye-Deep Red.

Commonly used exosomal membrane dye can cause dye aggregation, exhibiting fluorescent spots that are not derived from exosomes. These dyes can also change the functional properties of exosomes while increasing the background imaging.1,2
The dyes used in ExoSparkler series (Mem Dye-Green, Red, and Deep Red) do not cause aggregation and have little influence on properties of exosomes, allowing a more accurate observation of exosome dynamics.
1) Mehdi Dehghani et al., “Exosome labeling by lipophilic dye PKH26 results in significant increase in vesicle size”.bioRxiv., 2019, doi:10.1101/532028.
2) Pužar Dominkuš P et al., “PKH26 labeling of extracellular vesicles: Characterization and cellular internalization of contaminating PKH26 nanoparticles.” Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr., 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.03.013.

Our ExoSparkler Exosome Membrane Labelling Kits provide everything from fluorescence labeling to purification

ExoSparkler series contains filtration tubes available for the removal of dyes unreacted after fluorescence labeling, as well as an optimized protocol for labeling exosomes. Our ExoSparkler series makes it possible to prepare fluorescence labeling of exosomes using the simple procedure.

Comparison of purification methods (removal of unlabeled dyes)

The filtration tubes used to remove unlabeled dyes in this kit can purify exosomes at a higher recovery rate than gel filtration methods.

For the effectiveness of purification using filtration tubes, please see Q&A.
(The filter is colored in the purification after the labeling, Have unlabeled dyes been removed?)

Mem Dyes have little effect on exosome properties

NTA (nanoparticle tracking analysis) and zeta potential were measured to determine the changes in exosomes of dye-stained with Mem Dye-Deep Red or Product “P” (green or red) or unstained exosomes.
As a result, the Mem-Dye series (green, red, deep red) had little effect on exosome properties.

Effect of the dyes on the particle size of the exosomes

Exosomes were stained with Mem Dye-series (green, red, deep red) and Product “P” (green and red) at a dye concentration of 10 μmol/L in DMSO, the NTA (nanoparticle tracking analysis) of the stained exosomes (as 10 µg protein) was measured.
As a result, Mem Dyes-series did not change number and particle size of the exosomes (bottom left). Conversely, the Product “P” stained exosomes showed the significant changes of particle size and population of the exosomes (bottom right).
Instrument: LM10-HSBFT 14 (Nanosight)

Effect of the dyes on the zeta potentials of the exosomes

Exosomes were stained with Mem Dye-series (green, red, crimson) and Product “P” (green and red) at a dye concentration of 10 μmol/L in DMSO, the zeta potentials of the stained exosomes (as 10 µg protein) was measured.
As a result, product “P”-stained exosomes have lower zeta potential than Mem Dye-stained.
Instrument: Zetasizer Nano ZSP (Malvern Panalytical)

Observethetime-dependent changes in exosome localization


Exosomes purified by ultracentrifugation (10 µg as protein amount) were stained with Mem Dye-Deep Red (Exosome Membrane Fluorescence Labeling Kit) and added to HeLa cells (1.25×104 cells) stained with lysosome staining dye. The fluorescence images were observed after 1 h and 4 h incubation.
As a result, it was confirmed that the fluorescence puncta (purple) of Mem Dye-Deep Red overlapped with the localization of lysosomes (green) over time (white), and that the localization of exosomes changed in a time-dependent manner.

Detection Conditions
Mem Dye-Deep Red (Purple): Ex 640 nm/Em 640-760 nm
Lysosome staining dye: Ex 488 nm/Em 490-540 nm

Product Size Product Code
Visualization of Exosome Exosome Membrane Fluorescence Labeling Kits
ExoSparkler Exosome Membrane Labeling Kit-Green 5 samples EX01-10
ExoSparkler Exosome Membrane Labeling Kit-Red 5 samples EX02-10
ExExoSparkler Exosome Membrane Labeling Kit-Deep Red 5 samples EX03-10
  Exosome Protein Fluorescence Labeling Kits
ExoSparkler Exosome Protein Labeling Kit-Green 5 samples EX04-10
ExoSparkler Exosome Protein Labeling Kit-Red 5 samples EX05-10
ExoSparkler Exosome Protein Labeling Kit-Deep Red 5 samples EX06-10

Note:  Protein amount : 1-10μg/ sample, Particle count : 10 to 100 x 108 /samples (As purified exosome using ultracentrifugation)

ExoIsolator Exosome Isolation Kit

~ Features ~

  • Easy to use, no technique required
  • Recovery rate equivalent to ultracentrifugation
  • Filter holder is reusable

Easy to use no technique required

Recovery rate equivalent to ultracentrifugation

(a) Nanoparticle number and (b) expression level of exosome markers

 

Product Size Product Code
ExoIsolator Exosome Isolation Kit 3 tests EX10-10
Filter for exosome isolation kit 10 pieces EX11-10

 

*ExoIsolator Exosome Isolation Kit contains Filter Holder x 1, Isolation Filter x 3, Tweezers x 1. The Filter Holder can be reused after autoclaving.

 

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