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Circulating exosomes decrease in size and increase in number between birth and age 7: relations to fetal growth and
Marta Díaz1,2, Paula Casano1,2, Tania Quesada3,4
1Endocrinology Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Frontiers in Endocrinology
|November 29, 2023
Summary
Infant exosome size decreases and number increases by age 7, with differences observed between appropriate-for-gestational-age and small-for-gestational-age infants. Exosome size at age 7 correlates with childhood liver fat.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Exosomes are crucial for intercellular communication, transferring molecular cargo.
- Understanding exosome dynamics in children is limited.
- Fetal growth may influence early-life exosome characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess exosome size and number in infants and children.
- To compare exosome dynamics between appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants.
- To correlate exosome characteristics with endocrine-metabolic health and body composition.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 75 infants (40 AGA, 35 SGA) from birth to 7 years.
- Measured circulating exosome size and number at birth, 2, and 7 years.
- Assessed HOMA-IR, IGF-1, body composition (DXA), and abdominal fat (MRI).
Main Results:
- AGA infants showed decreased exosome size and increased number by age 7.
- SGA infants had larger exosomes at birth and lower exosome numbers at ages 2 and 7 compared to AGAs.
- Exosome size at age 7 was significantly associated with liver fat in the entire cohort.
Conclusions:
- Early-life exosome changes (size decrease, number increase) are influenced by fetal growth.
- Exosome size may serve as an early indicator of childhood liver fat.
- These findings provide insights into exosome biology in pediatric development.
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