RADIATION-INDUCED MODIFICATIONS IN MICRO-RNA AND PROTEOMIC CARGO IN PLASMA-DERIVED EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES

In this study, to delineate the radiation-induced changes in miRNAs and protein cargo, we established the microRNA and proteome profiles of plasma EVs collected from mice that had been sham- (SI), whole body (WBI), or partial body irradiated (PBI) with 2 Gy X-rays 24 hours before. The radiation-induced changes in the miRNA and protein composition of EVs can influence the stress response of distant cells by propagating damaging or protective signals. Testing EVs in functional assays may be a read out of the multiple radiation-induced signaling networks, crucial for gaining an understanding of the EVs properties. Therefore, to functionally elucidate the pathophysiological changes in the contents of EVs induced by irradiation, we here investigated the EV-induced cellular responses in vivo, by injecting WBI, PBI and SI plasma-derived EVs in the cerebellum of neonatal mice, highly susceptible to radiation injury, and evaluating the level of apoptosis.