Non-destructive colocalization sensing of microRNAs and membrane proteins in single vesicles reveals spatial inflammation signatures
Chronic inflammation underlies a broad spectrum of diseases, yet current liquid biopsy approaches lack the spatial resolution and molecular specificity to detect localized, disease-specific inflammatory signals. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a promising alternative, as they carry both membrane proteins and intravesicular biomolecules that reflect the physiological state and tissue of origin. Here, we present a sensing platform for single-vesicle colocalization analysis of membrane proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs), using cellulose nanofiber-mediated membrane fusion to non-destructively deliver probes into intact EVs. This approach enables simultaneous detection of tissue-specific and inflammation-associated markers in individual EVs. In kidney transplant recipients with chronic active antibody-mediated rejection, we identify EVs co-expressing the renal marker DPYS and miR-1246. In rheumatoid arthritis patients, we observe elevated levels of miR-1246 + /CD81 + EVs in plasma. Our platform distinguishes among inflammation-related EV subpopulations that are undetectable using bulk or surface-only analyses, thereby offering a non-invasive strategy for localized inflammation profiling.
Authors
- Kunanon Chattrairat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7587-6777)
- Kiyohiko Hotta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8080-5962)
- Manabu Tokeshi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4412-2144)
- Taiga Ajiri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9019-9935)
- Hiroyuki Asanuma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9903-7847)
- Hirotaka Koga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6295-1731)
- Kaoru Murakami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6830-8453)
- Naoya Iwahara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4909-7117)
- Shota Kawaguchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8341-3916)
- Takao Yasui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0333-3559)
- Shimpei I. Kubota (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3188-3988)
- Masatoshi Maeki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7500-4231)
- Masaaki Murakami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7159-7279)
- Yukiko Kamiya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7582-3886)
- Tatsuya Atsumi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5657-962X)
- Akira Yokoi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0789-5102)
- Takeshi Yokoyama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0299-9140)
- Mitsutaka Yasuda
- Yoshikazu Tanaka
- Kosuke Yoshida
- Fuminori Sato
- Yuichiro Fujieda
Institutions
- Kobe Pharmaceutical University (JP)
- National Institutes of Natural Sciences (JP)
- Tohoku University (JP)
- Hokkaido University (JP)
- National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (JP)
- National Institute for Physiological Sciences (JP)
- Institute of Science Tokyo (JP)
- Nagoya University (JP)
- The University of Osaka (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cell Reports Physical Science
- Published
- 2026-10-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2026.103613
- Primary Topic
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
- Hokkaido University
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Japan Science and Technology Agency
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology
- Moonshot Research and Development Program