Exosomes based strategies for cardiovascular diseases: Opportunities and challenges

Hang Li; Jun Zhang; Mingyue Tan; Yunfei Yin; Yiyi Song; Yongjian Zhao; Lin Yan; Ning Li; Xianzuo Zhang; Jiaxiang Bai; Tingbo Jiang; Hongxia Li

doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122544

Exosomes based strategies for cardiovascular diseases: Opportunities and challenges

Biomaterials. 2024 Mar 31:308:122544. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122544. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hang Li¹, Jun Zhang¹, Mingyue Tan², Yunfei Yin¹, Yiyi Song³, Yongjian Zhao¹, Lin Yan¹, Ning Li⁴, Xianzuo Zhang⁴, Jiaxiang Bai⁵, Tingbo Jiang⁶, Hongxia Li⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, PR China.
² Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, PR China; Department of Geriatrics, Cardiovascular Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China.
³ Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215000, PR China.
⁴ Department of Orthopedics, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, PR China.
⁵ Department of Orthopedics, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, PR China; National Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China. Electronic address: jxbai1995@163.com.
⁶ Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, PR China. Electronic address: 18906201122@189.cn.
⁷ Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, PR China. Electronic address: shrimp@suda.edu.cn.

PMID: 38579591
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122544

Abstract

Exosomes, as nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs), are secreted by all types of cells to facilitate intercellular communication in living organisms. After being taken up by neighboring or distant cells, exosomes can alter the expression levels of target genes in recipient cells and thereby affect their pathophysiological outcomes depending on payloads encapsulated therein. The functions and mechanisms of exosomes in cardiovascular diseases have attracted much attention in recent years and are thought to have cardioprotective and regenerative potential. This review summarizes the biogenesis and molecular contents of exosomes and details the roles played by exosomes released from various cells in the progression and recovery of cardiovascular disease. The review also discusses the current status of traditional exosomes in cardiovascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, pointing out several limitations in their application. It emphasizes that some of the existing emerging industrial or bioengineering technologies are promising to compensate for these shortcomings, and the combined application of exosomes and biomaterials provides an opportunity for mutual enhancement of their performance. The integration of exosome-based cell-free diagnostic and therapeutic options will contribute to the further development of cardiovascular regenerative medicine.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Engineering strategies; Exosomes; Regenerative medicine.

Publication types

Review