Lack of involvement of CD63 and CD9 tetraspanins in the extracellular vesicle content delivery process

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are thought to mediate intercellular communication by transferring cargoes from donor to acceptor cells. The EV content-delivery process within acceptor cells is still poorly characterized and debated. CD63 and CD9, members of the tetraspanin family, are highly enriched within EV membranes and are respectively enriched within multivesicular bodies/endosomes and at the plasma membrane of the cells. CD63 and CD9 have been suspected to regulate the EV uptake and delivery process. Here we used two independent assays and different cell models (HeLa, MDA-MB-231 and HEK293T cells) to assess the putative role of CD63 and CD9 in the EV delivery process that includes uptake and cargo delivery. Our results suggest that neither CD63, nor CD9 are required for this function. In human cell lines, CD63 and CD9 tetraspanins are knocked-down and shown to not be required for extracellular vesicle uptake and cargo delivery.

Automated summary

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a role in intercellular communication by transferring substances from donor to acceptor cells. The process of EV content delivery within acceptor cells and the involvement of CD63 and CD9 tetraspanins in this process have been unclear. This study used different cell models to investigate the potential role of CD63 and CD9 in EV uptake and cargo delivery, and found that neither CD63 nor CD9 is required for these functions.