Objective   To isolate extracellular vesicles (EVs) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), to examine their morphology, particle size, and distribution, to study the effect of EVs derived from Mtb (Mtb-EVs) on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cytokine secretion in dendritic cells (DCs), and to make preliminary exploration of Mtb-EVs' effect on the immune regulation of DCs.

  Methods   Mtb-EVs were obtained by ultrafiltration concentration and the protein concentration was determined by BCA assay. The morphology of Mtb-EVs was observed through negative staining electron microscopy (EM). The particle size distribution and concentration of Mtb-EVs were determined by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Mouse bone marrow was isolated through sterile procedures and mice myeloid DCs were induced and amplified by the combined use of recombinant mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rm GM-CSF) and recombinant mouse interleukin-4 (rm IL-4). Then, morphological and immunophenotypic characterization was performed. After that, the DCs were treated with Mtb-EVs at different concentrations and CCK-8 assay was done to measure their effect on the survival rate of DCs and to identify the appropriate stimulation concentration for subsequent experimental procedures. The intracellular ROS levels of DCs were evaluated with DCFH-DA fluorescence probe and the cytokine secretion of DCs was determined by ELISA.

  Results   EM observation showed that Mtb-EVs isolated by ultrafiltration concentration were spherical vesicles of varied sizes, all being approximately 100 nm in diameter and displaying typical morphology. NTA results from NanoSight nanoparticle tracker showed that the peak particle size was 98.5 nm, that the average particle size was 110.2 nm, and that the particle size was mainly distributed between 68.4-155.7 nm. Mtb-EVs that were smaller than 250 nm accounted for 98.39% of the total. Mouse myeloid DCs directionally induced and amplified in vitro displayed typical DC phenotype and morphology, and the purity exceeded 85%. EM verified the abundance of microvilli and radial protuberance on the surface of DCs, which had uniform cytoplasm and clear nuclear membrane. Loaded with Mtb-EVs at different concentrations, including 10², 10³, and 10⁴ particles/cell, the DCs had significantly upregulated levels of intracellular ROS (P<0.05). In addition, Mtb-EVs induced the release of IL-1β and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05).

  Conclusion   We established in the study a technical process for the extraction of Mtb-EVs by ultrafiltration concentration and obtained Mtb-EVs with sound morphology, high purity, and concentrated particle size distribution. Furthermore, Mtb-EVs can upregulate the intracellular ROS level in DCs and induce the release of IL-1β and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner.