Renal extracellular vesicles: from physiology to clinical application

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cell Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) originate from all kidney nephron segments and urinary tract cells.
• uEVs contain cell-specific proteomic and transcriptomic markers, making them valuable for kidney disease biomarker discovery.
• Exosomes, a type of uEV, are formed via multivesicular body fusion with the cell membrane.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on uEV signaling along the nephron.
• To discuss the role of uEVs in kidney health and disease.
• To explore the clinical potential of uEVs as biomarkers and therapeutics.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing research on urinary extracellular vesicles.
• Analysis of studies investigating uEV biogenesis, signaling, and function.
• Synthesis of data on uEVs in kidney disease contexts.

Main Results:

• uEVs act as a novel cell signaling mechanism, transferring molecules to recipient cells.
• Evidence supports uEV signaling throughout the nephron.
• uEVs play a role in both maintaining kidney health and the progression of kidney diseases.

Conclusions:

• Urinary extracellular vesicles are crucial for kidney cell communication.
• uEVs hold significant potential for clinical translation as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic agents for kidney diseases.