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Exosomes: emerging roles in communication between blood cells and vascular tissues during atherosclerosis

Heinrich J Huber1, Paul Holvoet

  • 1aDepartment of Cardiovascular Sciences, Atherosclerosis and Metabolism Unit bCardiovascular Systems Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Current Opinion in Lipidology
|August 27, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Exosomes play a crucial role in atherosclerosis by mediating inflammation and coagulation. Emerging technologies will further elucidate their communication pathways in disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Cellular Communication
  • Biomedical Research

Background:

  • Microvesicles, including exosomes, are increasingly recognized for their roles in atherosclerosis.
  • Previous reviews covered microvesicles in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy.
  • This review focuses specifically on the functions of exosomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the role of exosomes in inflammation, vessel infiltration, and coagulation in atherosclerosis.
  • To explore the potential atheroprotective functions of exosomes.
  • To provide an outlook on novel detection and analysis techniques for exosome research.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on recent research regarding exosomes in atherosclerosis.
  • Analysis of exosome-mediated cell-to-cell communication.
  • Discussion of emerging detection and systems biology techniques.

Main Results:

  • Exosomes deliver apoptotic and inflammatory content between blood and vascular cells.
  • Adipose tissue-secreted exosomes may contribute to atherosclerosis.
  • Exosomes may have an atheroprotective role in coagulation, contrasting with platelet-derived microvesicles.

Conclusions:

  • Novel detection, separation, and analysis methods are crucial for understanding exosome function.
  • Systems-based analysis will unravel exosome-mediated communication in atherosclerosis.
  • Exosomes mediate key processes like inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in atherosclerosis.

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