The exhaled condensate contains extracellular vesicles (EVs) with miRNA cargo of lung tissue origin that can be selectively purified and analyzed.

Abstract

This disclosure provides a non-invasive method for the early detection of deep lung lesions in subjects at risk of deep lung lesions. [Solution] This method includes (a) a step of collecting deep lung tissue from a subject at risk of deep lung lesions by isolating microRNA (riRNA) cargo of lung tissue origin within exhaled extracellular vesicles (EVs) purified from the subject's exhaled condensate (EBC); (b) a step of purifying lung-specific exhaled extracellular vesicles in the exhaled condensate by antibody capture of lung-specific exhaled EVs; and (c) a step of detecting lesions by comparing the miRNA profile of exhaled extracellular vesicles of lung tissue origin purified from the subject with the profile of exhaled extracellular vesicles purified from the exhaled condensate of a healthy subject. Early detection can lead to early treatment of lesions and improved health outcomes for the subject.

Images