Small Extracellular Vesicles in Alcohol Use Disorders: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Public Health

Background:

• Alcohol use disorder (AUD) presents a major global health challenge with incompletely understood pathophysiology.
• Identifying reliable biomarkers for AUD remains a critical unmet need.
• Previous studies on small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in AUD have yielded heterogeneous results, lacking systematic quality assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize findings on the molecular profiles of sEVs in individuals with alcohol use disorders.
• To assess the methodological quality of existing research in this area.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and Scopus databases.
• Included studies focused on sEV profiles in AUD, analyzing lipid profiles, protein profiles, and signaling molecules.
• Methodological quality was evaluated using an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for extracellular vesicle research.

Main Results:

• Ten studies were included, all employing cross-sectional designs with small cohorts.
• Significant alterations in sEV lipid and protein profiles were observed in individuals with AUD compared to controls.
• Specific microRNAs (e.g., decreased hsa-miR-144-5p, increased miR-30a-5p) and inflammatory markers were differentially expressed, predominantly linked to inflammation regulation.

Conclusions:

• sEVs exhibit altered lipid, protein, and microRNA profiles in alcohol use disorders.
• These alterations are significantly associated with the regulation of systemic inflammation.
• Future research should employ prospective designs with repeated measurements to elucidate the role of sEVs in AUD pathophysiology and inflammation.