Extracellular Vesicles as Mediators of Pathophysiology and Disease Progression in Cardiovascular Diseases

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Biomedical Science
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) present a growing global health and economic challenge.
• Existing treatments face limitations, driving the need for innovative therapies.
• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial mediators of intercellular communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted roles of EVs in cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathogenesis.
• To highlight recent findings (last 8 years) on EV functions in CVD.
• To explore the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of EVs in cardiology.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review focusing on publications from the last eight years.
• Analysis of studies investigating extracellular vesicles (EVs) in various cardiovascular conditions.
• Synthesis of evidence on EV molecular cargo and functional impacts.

Main Results:

• EVs from diverse origins carry disease-specific molecular cargo (miRNAs, proteins, etc.).
• EV cargo contributes to CVD hallmarks like inflammation, fibrosis, and cardiac remodeling.
• EVs demonstrate potential as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for CVDs.
• Preclinical studies show therapeutic promise for engineered EVs in cardiac repair.

Conclusions:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are integral to cardiovascular disease (CVD) processes.
• EVs offer significant potential as biomarkers for CVD diagnosis and prognosis.
• EV-based therapies represent a promising avenue for promoting cardiac repair and limiting adverse remodeling.