Journals / Laboratuvar Hayvanları Bilimi ve Uygulamaları Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 6 Sayı: 2

Fecal Extracellular Vesicles from Laboratory Mice Reprogram Neuroinflammatory Responses in Microglia

Laboratuvar farelerinden elde edilen fekal ekstraselüler veziküller, mikroglialarda nöroinflamatuvar yanıtları yeniden programlar

Sinan Gönüllü(BURSA ULUDAG UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-6252-3216
Hande Pelin Özdemir(ATATÜRK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0004-5187-0687
Selçuk Özdemir(Atatürk University,Erzurum,Turkey)0000-0001-7539-0523
Pages
174–192
Publication Date
2026-09-23
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicated that EV treatment markedly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study aims to examine the impact of fecal extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from laboratory mice on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory responses in BV2 microglia cells.
📊
Key Findings & Data:TEM analysis demonstrated characteristic vesicular morphology, NTA confirmed particle distribution within the nanometer size range, and Western blot analysis indicated flotillin positivity while calnexin was absent as a negative control, thereby validating EV purity. 3-(4,5-dimetiltiyazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazolyum bromür (MTT) assay for dose optimization in BV2 microglia cells revealed that a concentration of 10 µg/mL was cytotoxic; therefore, 2.5 µg/mL and 5 µg/mL were selected as safe doses for further investigations.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicated that EV treatment markedly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Fekal EV · nöroinflamasyon · BV2 mikroglia

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of fecal extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from laboratory mice on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory responses in BV2 microglia cells. EVs were isolated using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and Western blot techniques. TEM analysis demonstrated characteristic vesicular morphology, NTA confirmed particle distribution within the nanometer size range, and Western blot analysis indicated flotillin positivity while calnexin was absent as a negative control, thereby validating EV purity. 3-(4,5-dimetiltiyazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazolyum bromür (MTT) assay for dose optimization in BV2 microglia cells revealed that a concentration of 10 µg/mL was cytotoxic; therefore, 2.5 µg/mL and 5 µg/mL were selected as safe doses for further investigations. The effects of EV administration on LPS-induced inflammatory responses were assessed using RT-qPCR and ELISA. In addition, the expression levels of neuroinflammation- and microglial activation-related markers, including neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), were also analyzed. The findings indicated that EV treatment markedly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In addition, fecal EV treatment attenuated the LPS-induced elevation of the anti-inflammatory mediators interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Furthermore, changes in the expression of neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) supported the modulation of microglial activation and neuroinflammatory processes by EVs. In conclusion, fecal EVs may modulate neuroinflammatory responses by influencing microglial inflammation and could serve as functional communication mediators within the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

Özet

Bu çalışma, laboratuvar farelerinden elde edilen fekal ekstraselüler veziküllerin (EV’ler), BV2 mikroglia hücrelerinde LPS ile indüklenen nöroinflamatuvar yanıtlar üzerindeki etkisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. EV’ler boyut dışlama kromatografisi (SEC) yöntemi ile izole edilmiş ve transmisyon elektron mikroskopisi (TEM), nanopartikül izleme analizi (NTA) ve Western blot teknikleri ile karakterize edilmiştir. TEM analizi karakteristik veziküler morfolojiyi göstermiş, NTA partiküllerin nanometre aralığında dağılımını doğrulamış ve Western blot analizinde flotillin pozitifliği ile birlikte negatif kontrol olarak kullanılan kalneksin’in (calnexin) yokluğu EV saflığını doğrulamıştır. BV2 mikroglia hücrelerinde MTT testi ile yapılan doz optimizasyonu sonucunda 10 µg/mL konsantrasyonun sitotoksik olduğu belirlenmiş; bu nedenle 2.5 µg/mL ve 5 µg/mL güvenli dozlar olarak ileri analizler için seçilmiştir. EV uygulamasının LPS ile indüklenen inflamatuvar yanıtlar üzerindeki etkileri RT-qPCR ve ELISA yöntemleri kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca NfL, GFAP, Iba1 ve TREM2 gibi nöroinflamasyon ve mikroglial aktivasyon ile ilişkili belirteçlerin ekspresyon düzeyleri de analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular, EV tedavisinin Il1b, Il6, Tnfa, Nos2 ve Ptgs2 gibi pro-inflamatuvar gen ve proteinlerin üretimini belirgin şekilde inhibe ettiğini, buna karşılık IL-10 ve TGF-β1 gibi anti-inflamatuvar belirteçleri artırdığını göstermiştir. Ayrıca NfL, GAP-43, Iba1 ve TREM2 ekspresyonundaki değişimler, EV’lerin mikroglial aktivasyon ve nöroinflamatuvar süreçleri modüle ettiğini desteklemiştir. Sonuç olarak fekal ekstraselüler veziküllerin, mikroglial inflamasyonu etkileyerek nöroinflamatuvar yanıtları modüle edebileceği ve mikrobiyota–bağırsak–beyin ekseninde fonksiyonel iletişim aracları olarak rol oynayabileceği düşünülmektedir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Gönüllü, S., Özdemir, H. P., Küçükler, S., Özdemir, S. (2026). Fecal Extracellular Vesicles from Laboratory Mice Reprogram Neuroinflammatory Responses in Microglia. Laboratuvar Hayvanları Bilimi ve Uygulamaları Dergisi, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 2, 174–192. https://doi.org/10.62425/jlasp.1978421

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (44)

  1. Barathan, M., Ng, S. L., Lokanathan, Y., Ng, M. H., & Law, J. X. (2024). The profound influence of gut microbiome and extracellular vesicles on animal health and disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(7), 4024. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25074024
  2. Benameur, T., Hasan, A., Toufig, H., Panaro, M. A., Filannino, F. M., & Porro, C. (2025). Microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles as potential mediators of gut–brain communication in traumatic brain injury: Mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic ıimplications. Biomolecules, 15(10), 1398. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15101398
  3. Berumen Sánchez, G., Bunn, K. E., Pua, H. H., & Rafat, M. (2021). Extracellular vesicles: mediators of intercellular communication in tissue injury and disease. Cell Communication and Signaling, 19(1), 104. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-021-00787-y
  4. Bustin, S. A., & Wittwer, C. T. (2026). Real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) methodological standards and reporting practices. Clinical Chemistry, 72(6), 641–651. https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/hvaf176
  5. Buzas, E. I. (2023). The roles of extracellular vesicles in the immune system. Nature Reviews Immunology, 23(4), 236–250. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-022-00763-8
  6. Carabotti, M., Scirocco, A., Maselli, M. A., & Severi, C. (2015). The gut-brain axis: Interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Annals of Gastroenterology, 28(2), 203–209.
  7. Che Shaffi, S., Hairuddin, O. N., Mansor, S. F., Syafiq, T. M. F., & Yahaya, B. H. (2024). Unlocking the potential of extracellular vesicles as the next generation therapy: Challenges and opportunities. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 21(4), 513–527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-024-00634-4
  8. Chesselet, M. F., & Carmichael, S. T. (2012). Animal models of neurological disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 9(2), 241–244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-012-0118-9
  9. Cuesta, C. M., Guerri, C., Ureña, J., & Pascual, M. (2021). Role of microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles in gut-brain communication. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(8), 4235. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22084235
  10. da Costa, P. M., Nunes, P. I. G., Ciurleo, G. C. V., Junior, J. W. L. T., Neto, P. B., Belayev, L., & Oriá, R. B. (2026). The role of extracellular vesicles as diagnostic tools in gut-brain axis disorders. Molecular Neurobiology, 63(1), 349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-025-05645-3
  11. Díaz-Garrido, N., Badia, J., & Baldomà, L. (2021a). Microbiota‐derived extracellular vesicles in interkingdom communication in the gut. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 10(13), e12161. https://doi.org/10.1002/JEV2.12161
  12. Diaz-Garrido, N., Cordero, C., Olivo-Martinez, Y., Badia, J., & Baldomà, L. (2021b). Cell-to-cell communication by host-released extracellular vesicles in the gut: Implications in health and disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(4), 2213. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22042213
  13. Díez-Sainz, E., Milagro, F. I., Riezu-Boj, J. I., & Lorente-Cebrián, S. (2022). Effects of gut microbiota–derived extracellular vesicles on obesity and diabetes and their potential modulation through diet. Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry, 78(2), 485–499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-021-00837-6
  14. Ghandian, A., Heydari, R., Shahrokh, S., & Meyfour, A. (2025). P0043 Fecal extracellular vesicles from healthy individuals: A novel therapeutic approach for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, 19(1), i394. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjae190.0217
  15. Guo, J., Li, Y., Ma, K., & Su, G. (2025). Enhancing autophagy mitigates LPS-induced neuroinflammation by inhibiting microglial M1 polarization and neuronophagocytosis. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 19, 1546848. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2025.1546848
  16. Guo, S., Wang, H., & Yin, Y. (2022). Microglia polarization from M1 to M2 in neurodegenerative diseases. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 14, 815347. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.815347
  17. Kaisanlahti, A., Turunen, J., Hekkala, J., Mishra, S., Karikka, S., Amatya, S. B., Paalanne, N., Kruger, J., Portaankorva, A. M., Koivunen, J., Jukkola, A., Vihinen, P., Auvinen, P., Leppä, S., Karihtala, P., Koivukangas, V., Hukkanen, J., Vainio, S., Samoylenko, A., … Ruuska-Loewald, T. (2025). Gut microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles form a distinct entity from gut microbiota. MSystems, 10(5), 0031125. https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.00311-25
  18. Kearns, R. (2024). Gut–brain axis and neuroinflammation: The role of gut permeability and the kynurenine pathway in neurological disorders. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 44(1), 64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-024-01496-z
  19. Kim, N. Y., Lee, H. Y., Choi, Y. Y., Mo, S. J., Jeon, S., Ha, J. H., Park, S. D., Shim, J. J., Lee, J., & Chung, B. G. (2024). Effect of gut microbiota-derived metabolites and extracellular vesicles on neurodegenerative disease in a gut-brain axis chip. Nano Convergence, 11(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40580-024-00413-w
  20. Kuang, L., Wu, L., & Li, Y. (2025). Extracellular vesicles in tumor immunity: mechanisms and novel insights. Molecular Cancer, 24(1), 45. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02233-w
  21. Kumar, M. A., Baba, S. K., Sadida, H. Q., Marzooqi, S. Al, Jerobin, J., Altemani, F. H., Algehainy, N., Alanazi, M. A., Abou-Samra, A. B., Kumar, R., Al-Shabeeb Akil, A. S., Macha, M. A., Mir, R., & Bhat, A. A. (2024). Extracellular vesicles as tools and targets in therapy for diseases. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 9(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01735-1
  22. Lee, S., Jo, E., Lee, E. Y., & Choi, D. (2026). Proteomics of extracellular vesicles derived from Lactobacillus: Implications in gut immune homeostasis and therapeutic potential. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 194, 118955. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOPHA.2025.118955
  23. Li, Y., Liu, Y., Wei, X., Wang, C., Zahoor Khan, M., & Ma, Q. (2026). Probiotic extracellular vesicles reprogram macrophage immunometabolism: From gut crosstalk to host health. Gut Microbes, 18(1), 2614115. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2026.2614115
  24. Livak, K. J., & Schmittgen, T. D. (2001). Analysis of relative gene expression data using real-time quantitative PCR and the 2-ΔΔCT method. Methods, 25(4), 402–408. https://doi.org/10.1006/meth.2001.1262
  25. Lu, C., Huang, C., Qu, S., Lin, H., Zhong, H. J., & Chong, C. M. (2024). Oxyimperatorin attenuates LPS-induced microglial activation in vitro and in vivo via suppressing NF-κB p65 signaling. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 173, 116379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116379
  26. Maas, S. L. N., Breakefield, X. O., & Weaver, A. M. (2017). Extracellular vesicles: Unique intercellular delivery vehicles. Trends in Cell Biology, 27(3), 172–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2016.11.003
  27. Mishra, S., Maltseva, A., Nieminen, A. I., Niku, M., Karikka, S., Hekkala, J., Leppä, S., Vihinen, P., Sunela, K., Koivunen, J., Jukkola, A., Kalashnikov, I., Auvinen, P., Kääriäinen, O. S., Saarnio, J., Meriläinen, S., Rautio, T., Aro, R., Häivälä, R., … Reunanen, J. (2025). The metabolome of fecal extracellular vesicles in patients with malignant solid tumors. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 29402. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14250-2
  28. Mukherjee, P., Roy, S., Ghosh, D., & Nandi, S. K. (2022). Role of animal models in biomedical research: a review. Laboratory Animal Research, 38(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42826-022-00128-1
  29. Neziri, S., Köseoğlu, A. E., Deniz Köseoğlu, G., Özgültekin, B., & Özgentürk, N. Ö. (2024). Animal models in neuroscience with alternative approaches: Evolutionary, biomedical, and ethical perspectives. Animal Models and Experimental Medicine, 7(6), 868–880. https://doi.org/10.1002/ame2.12487
  30. Northrop-Albrecht, E. J., Taylor, W. R., Huang, B. Q., Kisiel, J. B., & Lucien, F. (2022). Assessment of extracellular vesicle isolation methods from human stool supernatant. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 11(4), e12208. https://doi.org/10.1002/jev2.12208
  31. Petrut, S. M., Bragaru, A. M., Munteanu, A. E., Moldovan, A. D., Moldovan, C. A., & Rusu, E. (2025). Gut over mind: Exploring the powerful gut–brain axis. Nutrients, 17(5), 842. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050842 polarization via the p38 and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated microglial cells. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 1126. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.01126
  32. Primorac, D., Brlek, P., Bulić, L., Hrvatin, N., Škaro, V., Projić, P., Glavan, M., Oleru, I., Rocheteau, P., Tremolada, C., DeMers, A., Ambach, M. A., Buford, D., Knežević, T., Kouroupis, D., Conforti, C., Kimbrough, D. W., Schnorr, R. P., Williams, L., … Mobasheri, A. (2026). Therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles: From biogenesis, ısolation and molecular characterization to addressing translational gaps and regulatory barriers. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(4), 1676. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27041676
  33. Rafieezadeh, D., & Rafieezadeh, A. (2024). Extracellular vesicles and their therapeutic applications: A review article (part1). International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, 16(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.62347/qpag5693
  34. Suganya, K., & Koo, B. S. (2020). Gut–brain axis: Role of gut microbiota on neurological disorders and how probiotics/prebiotics beneficially modulate microbial and immune pathways to improve brain functions. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(20), 7551. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21207551
  35. Sun, B., Sawant, H., Borthakur, A., & Bihl, J. C. (2023). Emerging therapeutic role of gut microbial extracellular vesicles in neurological disorders. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 17, 1241418. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1241418
  36. Tsioti, I., Steiner, B. L., Escher, P., Zinkernagel, M. S., Benz, P. M., & Kokona, D. (2023). Endothelial Toll-like receptor 4 is required for microglia activation in the murine retina after systemic lipopolysaccharide exposure. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 20(1), 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-023-02712-1
  37. Wang, J., Moosavizadeh, S., Jammes, M., Tabasi, A., Bach, T., Ryan, A. E., & Ritter, T. (2025). In-vitro immunomodulatory efficacy of extracellular vesicles derived from TGF-β1/IFN-γ dual licensed human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. Stem Cell Research and Therapy, 16(1), 357. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04476-2
  38. Wang, S., Luo, J., Wang, H., Chen, T., Sun, J., Xi, Q., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Extracellular vesicles: A crucial player in the intestinal microenvironment and beyond. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(6), 3478. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJMS25063478
  39. Xie, J., Tuo, P., Zhang, W., & Wang, S. (2023). Inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway promotes the polarization of LPS-induced BV2 microglia toward the M2 phenotype. NeuroReport, 34(17), 834–844. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNR.0000000000001961
  40. Xu, G., Jin, J., Fu, Z., Wang, G., Lei, X., Xu, J., & Wang, J. (2025). Extracellular vesicle-based drug overview: research landscape, quality control and nonclinical evaluation strategies. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 10(1), 255. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-025-02312-w
  41. Yang, J., Shin, T. S., Kim, J. S., Jee, Y. K., & Kim, Y. K. (2022). A new horizon of precision medicine: Combination of the microbiome and extracellular vesicles. Experimental and Molecular Medicine, 54(4), 466–482. https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-022-00748-6
  42. Zaborowski, M. P., Balaj, L., Breakefield, X. O., & Lai, C. P. (2015). Extracellular cesicles: Composition, biological relevance, and methods of study. BioScience, 65(8), 783–797. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv084
  43. Zhou, L., Wang, D., Qiu, X., Zhang, W., Gong, Z., Wang, Y., & Xu, X. (2020). DHZCP modulates microglial M1/M2 polarization via the p38 and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated microglial cells. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 1126. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.01126
  44. Zhu, W., Yuan, Y., Guan, X., Xie, Q., Sun, X., & Dong, Z. (2025). Gut microbiota-derived extracellular vesicles: Exploring the pathogenesis and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Life Sciences, 376, 123750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2025.123750