Extracellular Vesicles in Blood: Sources, Effects, and Applications

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important players for intercellular communication. EVs are secreted by almost all cell types; they can transfer information between nearby or distant cells, and they are highly abundant in body fluids. In this review, we describe the general characteristics of EVs, as well as isolation and characterization approaches. Then, we focus on one of the most relevant sources of EVs: the blood. Indeed, apart from EVs secreted by blood cells, EVs of diverse origins travel in the bloodstream. We present the numerous types of EVs that have been found in circulation. Besides, the implications of blood-derived EVs in both physiological and pathological processes are summarized, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and prognosis of several diseases, and also as indicators of physiological modifications. Finally, the applications of EVs introduced in the circulatory system are discussed. We describe the use of EVs from distinct origins, naturally produced or engineered, autologous, allogeneic, or even from different species and the effects they have when introduced in circulation. Therefore, the present work provides a comprehensive overview of the components, effects, and applications of EVs in blood.

Extracellular Vesicles from Uterine Aspirates Represent a Promising Source for Screening Markers of Gynecologic Cancers

“…At the same time, EVs found in body fluids are produced by all tumor cells, as well as by tumor-associated stromal cells and can thus more fully reflect tumor-associated disturbances, including epigenetic changes and signaling pathway alterations. Compared with liquid cancer biopsy markers—in particular, cell-free nucleic acids—EV molecules also have several advantages, such as: (i) high stability due to the surrounding bilayer lipid membrane [ 19 ], (ii) enrichment with molecules, particularly RNA and miRNA, compared to non-vesicular fractions of the same body fluids [ 20 , 21 ] and even compared to parental cells [ 22 ] and (iii) high specificity, since the cell-free molecules detected in circulation may reflect cell damage or death, whereas EV cargo molecules are the result of precise selection and targeted loading [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Stability of Erythrocyte-Derived Nanovesicles Assessed by Light Scattering and Electron Microscopy

“…Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of nano- to micro-sized membrane-enclosed particles that are found in almost every sample of biological origin [ 1 ]. They function as a means of intercellular communication [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ] and are involved in several physiological and pathological contexts, such as in embryogenesis [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ], neuronal communication [ 10 ], blood coagulation [ 11 , 12 ], inflammation [ 13 , 14 ], tumorigenesis [ 1 , 15 ], and horizontal gene transfer [ 7 , 8 , 16 ]. In recent decades, EVs have been extensively studied for their potential clinical utility: as biomarkers to track the progression of various diseases, as drugs, or as vectors for drug-delivery [ 4 , 17 , 18 ].…”

Application of Dynamic and Static Light Scattering for Size and Shape Characterization of Small Extracellular Nanoparticles in Plasma and Ascites of Ovarian Cancer Patients

“…EVs [ 53 , 54 ] and lipoproteins [ 55 , 56 ] both play roles in the intercellular transfer of material and communication and exhibit many common features [ 57 ]. In a majority of studies, EVs and lipoproteins are perceived as strictly separate classes of particles, and represent an interference or “contamination” in the isolates of one-another.…”