Endothelial Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Biomarkers in Chronic Interstitial Lung Diseases

We investigated the potential role of extracellular vesicles as biomarkers in interstitial lung diseases. Endothelial derived extracellular vesicles were enumerated in 14 consecutive patients with usual interstitial pneumonia or possible usual interstitial pneumonia, and 18 normal controls by flow cytometry. The number of endothelial derived extracellular vesicles was significantly greater in patients compared to controls [160 (73) vs. 85 (31) events/min respectively; median (interquartile range); p<0.001]. A receiving operating characteristic curve shows that an arbitrary cut-off of 104 events/min corresponded to a sensitivity of 93%, and a specificity of 83%. Endothelial cell derived extracellular vesicles are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases.