Exosomes are small vesicles released from cells into extracellular space. We have isolated
exosomes from neuroblastoma cells and investigated their influence on the aggregation of α-
synuclein, a protein associated with Parkinson disease pathology. Using cryo-transmission
electron microscopy of exosomes, we found spherical unilamellar vesicles with a significant
protein content, and Western blot analysis revealed that they contain, as expected, the
proteins Flotillin-1 and Alix. Using thioflavin T fluorescence to monitor aggregation kinetics …