Tiny Shuttles for Information Transfer: Exosomes in Cardiac Health and Disease

Intercellular communication mediated by exosomes, nano-sized extracellular vesicles, is crucial for preserving vascular integrity and in the development of cardiovascular and other diseases. As natural carriers of signal molecules, exosomes released from sources such as blood cells, endothelial cells, immune cells, smooth muscle cells, etc., can modify a multitude of cellular bioactivities. They do so by shuttling lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids between donor and recipient cells while circulating in body fluids and in the extracellular space. A recent surge of interest in the field of exosomal biology is in part due to the recognition that the molecules they carry can act as facilitators of both pathogenesis but can also initiate protective and rescue signaling. This mini-review describes current knowledge on exosome function in health and disease including cardiovascular disease.