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Published on: June 15, 2018

MicroRNA-containing microvesicles regulating inflammation in association with atherosclerotic disease

Maarten Hulsmans1, Paul Holvoet

  • 1Atherosclerosis and Metabolism Unit, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, PB 705, Leuven B-3000, Belgium.

Cardiovascular Research
|June 19, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Extracellular vesicles, known as microvesicles, facilitate cell communication and are implicated in chronic inflammatory diseases like atherosclerosis. Specific microRNAs within these microvesicles show potential as diagnostic biomarkers.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Eukaryotic cells release extracellular vesicles, including exosomes and shedding microvesicles, into the microenvironment.
  • Most human studies analyze mixed vesicle populations, with few distinguishing between exosomes and shedding microvesicles.
  • This review collectively refers to exosomes and shedding microvesicles as microvesicles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of microvesicles in cell-to-cell communication, particularly in chronic inflammation and atherosclerotic disease.
  • To examine microvesicle content changes, focusing on microRNAs, in relation to inflammation in metabolic diseases, atherosclerotic disease, and cancer.
  • To highlight the potential of microvesicles as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic carriers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on cell-specific microvesicles (platelets, endothelial cells, monocytes).
  • Analysis of studies examining microvesicle content, with an emphasis on microRNAs.
  • Synthesis of data on microRNAs implicated in inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Main Results:

  • Microvesicles play a role in cell-cell communication in chronic inflammation, including atherosclerotic disease.
  • Microvesicles derived from platelets, endothelial cells, and monocytes are associated with inflammation in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
  • Specific microRNAs (let-7, miR-17/92, miR-21, miR-29, miR-126, miR-133, miR-146, miR-155) are altered in inflammatory microvesicles.

Conclusions:

  • Microvesicles are crucial mediators of cell communication in inflammatory diseases.
  • Altered microRNA content in microvesicles suggests their potential as diagnostic biomarkers for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.
  • Microvesicles represent promising carriers for cell-specific microRNA delivery and therapeutic applications.
Keywords:
Atherosclerotic diseaseCell-to-cell communicationInflammationMicroRNAsMicrovesicles

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