Liquid Biopsies: Microvesicles in Cardiovascular Disease

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• Circulating microvesicles (cMV) are phospholipid-rich vesicles released by cells, increasing with activation or injury.
• These vesicles carry molecular cargo that can alter recipient cell phenotypes.
• cMV are increasingly recognized for their potential as biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of knowledge on cMV as noninvasive biomarkers for vascular injury and dysfunction in CVD.
• To highlight the potential of cMV subpopulations in predicting CVD outcomes.
• To discuss challenges and future directions for cMV clinical application.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating cMV in cardiovascular diseases.
• Analysis of evidence linking cMV phenotypes to vascular injury, dysfunction, and clinical outcomes.
• Discussion of current limitations and future research needs for biomarker development.

Main Results:

• cMV reflect the physiological state of originating cells, serving as indicators of vascular health.
• Specific cMV subpopulations show correlation with CVD severity and poor prognosis.
• Existing evidence supports cMV utility as surrogate biomarkers for CVD.

Conclusions:

• cMV are promising noninvasive biomarkers for vascular injury and CVD prognosis.
• Validation in large cohorts and standardization of detection methods are crucial for clinical translation.
• A multipanel approach using cMV phenotypes could enhance CVD risk stratification and guide precision medicine.