Interspecies communication between plant and mouse gut host cells through edible plant derived exosome‐like nanoparticles

TLDR

Exosomes are key intercellular communicators, yet the function of edible plant‑derived exosomes in cross‑species signaling remains unexplored. This study examines how edible plant‑derived exosome‑like nanoparticles (EPDENs) affect mammalian cells. Researchers isolated and characterized EPDENs from four edible plants, assessing their composition and uptake by intestinal immune and stem cells. The EPDENs, rich in proteins, lipids, and miRNAs, were internalized by intestinal macrophages and stem cells, where ginger EPDENs upregulated HO‑1 and IL‑10, while ginger, grapefruit, and carrot EPDENs activated NRF2‑like pathways and increased β‑galactosidase‑positive crypts, indicating Wnt‑mediated intestinal homeostasis promotion.

Abstract

Scope Exosomes, small vesicles participating in intercellular communication, have been extensively studied recently; however, the role of edible plant derived exosomes in interspecies communication has not been investigated. Here, we investigate the biological effects of edible plant derived exosome‐like nanoparticles (EPDENs) on mammalian cells. Methods and results In this study, exosome‐like nanoparticles from four edible plants were isolated and characterized. We show that these EPDENs contain proteins, lipids, and microRNA. EPDENs are taken up by intestinal macrophages and stem cells. The results generated from EPDEN‐transfected macrophages indicate that ginger EPDENs preferentially induce the expression of the antioxidation gene, heme oxygenase‐1 and the anti‐inflammatory cytokine, IL‐10; whereas grapefruit, ginger, and carrot EPDENs promote activation of nuclear factor like (erythroid‐derived 2). Furthermore, analysis of the intestines of canonical Wnt‐reporter mice, i.e. B6.Cg‐Tg(BAT‐lacZ)3Picc/J mice, revealed that the numbers of β‐galactosidase + (β‐Gal) intestinal crypts are increased, suggesting that EPDEN treatment of mice leads to Wnt‐mediated activation of the TCF4 transcription machinery in the crypts. Conclusion The data suggest a role for EPDEN‐mediated interspecies communication by inducing expression of genes for anti‐inflammation cytokines, antioxidation, and activation of Wnt signaling, which are crucial for maintaining intestinal homeostasis.