Metals in nanomotion: probing the role of extracellular vesicles in intercellular metal transfer

Metals in living organisms and environments are essential for key biological functions such as enzymatic activity, and DNA and RNA synthesis. This means that disruption of metal ion homeostasis and exchange between cells can lead to diseases. EVs are believed to play an essential role in transporting metals between cells, but the mechanism of metal packaging and exchange remains to be elucidated. Here, we established the elemental composition of EVs at the nanoscale and single-vesicle level and showed that the metal content depends on the cell type and culture microenvironment. We also demonstrated that EVs participate in the exchange of metal elements between cells. Specifically, we used two classes of EVs derived from papaya fermented fluid (PaEVs), and decidual mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (DEVs). To show that EVs transfer metal elements to cells, we treated human osteoblast-like cells (MG63) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) with both classes of EVs. We found that both classes of EVs contained various metal elements, such as Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Na, Zn, and K, originating from their parent cells, but their relative concentrations did not mirror the ones found in the parent cells. Single-particle analysis of P, Ca, and Fe in DEVs and PaEVs revealed varying element masses. Assuming spherical geometry, the mean mass of P was converted to a mean size of 62 nm in DEVs and 24 nm in PaEVs, while the mean sizes of Ca and Fe in DEVs were smaller, converting to 20 nm and 30 nm respectively. When EVs interacted with BMMSCs and MG63, DEVs increased Ca, P, and Fe concentrations in BMMSCs and increased Fe concentration in MG63, while PaEVs increased Ca concentrations in BMMSCs and had no effect on MG63. The EV cargo, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, differs from their origin in composition, and this variation extends to the element composition of EVs in our study. This fundamental understanding of EV-mediated metal exchange between cells could offer a new way of assessing EV functionality by measuring their elemental composition. Additionally, it will contribute novel insights into the mechanisms underlying EV production and their biological activity.