Exosomes-Potential for Blood-Based Marker in Alzheimer's Disease

Exosomes are believed to be secreted from multivesicular endosomes and containing proteins and nucleic acids, including mRNA and microRNAs, which have been implicated to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases. Neuron-derived exosomes at the circulation provide a unique potential as biomarkers towards assessment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), even at the pre-clinical stage. This review briefly discusses their biogenesis and transport, exosomal protein verses soluble protein, evidence for their role in AD, isolation of exosomes, and challenges and future directions to realize reliable blood-based biomarkers to meet phenomenal unmet clinical and pre-clinical need of AD.