EVs from primary neurons: Characterization of extracellular vesicles derived from mouse primary neurons

It is now clear that the specific composition of extracellular vesicles (EV) is largely determined by the type and developmental or biological state of their donor cells. Careful characterization of EV secretion is therefore important for understanding their functions in specific contexts. Here, we assess neuronal EV secretion, using mouse primary cortical and hippocampal neurons and at two developmental stages. Our proteomics data further shows the presence of widely reported EV proteins such as CD81, Alix and TSG101, and the absence of the commonly used EV marker CD63. Moreover, neuron-derived EVs were significantly enriched in neuronal-enriched proteins, including specific synaptic proteins. Overall, this data provides an initial framework for the isolation of EVs from primary neurons that could be beneficial for specific studies of neuron-derived EVs.