Identification and proteomic profiling of biliary exosomes

Background & Aims: In previous studies the biliary proteome has been analyzed, showing a distinct set of proteins to be abundantly present in the bile fluid. Within these proteins there was a considerable amount of membranous and cytosolic proteins indicating a vesicular form of protein excretion within the biliary tract. We aimed to identify the possible secretion of exosomes into the bile fluid and characterize their biochemical and proteomic constitution. Methods: Bile fluid of patients admitted to ERC due to the presence of choledocholithiasis in absent of clinical and laboratory signs of cholangitis were co…