Extracellular vesicles as biomarkers and modulators of atherosclerosis pathogenesis

Sarvatit Patel; Mandy Kunze Guo; Majed Abdul Samad; Kathryn L Howe

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2023.1202187

Extracellular vesicles as biomarkers and modulators of atherosclerosis pathogenesis

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023 May 26:10:1202187. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1202187. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Sarvatit Patel^{1

2

3}, Mandy Kunze Guo^{1

2}, Majed Abdul Samad¹, Kathryn L Howe^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, lipid bilayer-enclosed structures released by various cell types that play a critical role in intercellular communication. In atherosclerosis, EVs have been implicated in multiple pathophysiological processes, including endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and thrombosis. This review provides an up-to-date overview of our current understanding of the roles of EVs in atherosclerosis, emphasizing their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and their roles in disease pathogenesis. We discuss the different types of EVs involved in atherosclerosis, the diverse cargoes they carry, their mechanisms of action, and the various methods employed for their isolation and analysis. Moreover, we underscore the importance of using relevant animal models and human samples to elucidate the role of EVs in disease pathogenesis. Overall, this review consolidates our current knowledge of EVs in atherosclerosis and highlights their potential as promising targets for disease diagnosis and therapy.

Keywords: EV tracking models; atherosclerosis; biomarkers; extracellular vesicles; therapeutics.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

SP is supported by the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. KH is supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant PJT178006, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (New Investigator Award), Vascular Cures (Wylie Scholar Award), Blair Early Career Professorship in Vascular Surgery, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and University Health Network.