Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small (50 -1000 nm) bilayer-membrane coated particles released from cells upon activation and are characterized by their size and cell of origin. EVs have procoagulant properties presumably due to expression of negatively charged phospholipids on the external membrane and tissue factor under certain pathophysiological conditions (e.g. cancer and acute infections).
TREC laboratory Foto: S.K. Brækkan
The overall aim of this project is to identify specific EV profiles with distinct procoagulant properties associated with VTE risk that could improve risk assessment and be targetable for interventions. We will establish state-of-the-art methodologies for EV measurements in house and optimize preanalytical conditions. We will develop new methods to assess the procoagulant properties and role of EVs for VTE risk. These methods include (i) specific assays suitable for measurement of the expression of EV-specific procoagulant phospholipids in plasma, (ii) measurement of tissue factor activity in a milieu abundant of negatively charged phospholipids, (ii) a bead-based assay for direct semi-quantitative measurement of cell-specific EVs in plasma, (iv) a method for assessment of the biochemical composition of single EVs (Raman Tweezers Microspectrometry), and (v) proteomics of EVs isolated from specific cells.