Non-reversible tissue fixation retains extracellular vesicles for in situ imaging

Nat Methods. 2019 Dec;16(12):1269-1273. doi: 10.1038/s41592-019-0623-4. Epub 2019 Nov 11.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted nanosized particles with many biological functions and pathological associations. The inability to image EVs in fixed tissues has been a major limitation to understanding their role in healthy and diseased tissue microenvironments. Here, we show that crosslinking mammalian tissues with formaldehyde results in significant EV loss, which can be prevented by additional fixation with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) for visualization of EVs in a range of normal and cancer tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbodiimides
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Extracellular Vesicles / ultrastructure*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Tissue Fixation / methods*
  • Vitreous Body / ultrastructure

Substances

  • 1-ethyl-3-(3-(diethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide
  • Carbodiimides