Extracellular Vesicles in Premature Aging and Diseases in Adulthood Due to Developmental Exposures

Abstract

The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) is a paradigm that links prenatal and early life exposures that occur during crucial periods of development to health outcome and risk of disease later in life. Maternal exposures to stress, some psychoactive drugs and alcohol, and environmental chemicals, among others, may result in functional changes in developing fetal tissues, creating a predisposition for disease in the individual as they age. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be mediators of both the immediate effects of exposure during development and early childhood as well as the long-term consequences of exposure that lead to increased risk and disease severity later in life. Given the prevalence of diseases with developmental origins, such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, osteoporosis, metabolic dysfunction, and cancer, it is important to identify persistent mediators of disease risk. In this review, we take this approach, viewing diseases typically associated with aging in light of early life exposures and discuss the potential role of EVs as mediators of lasting consequences.

Utilizing Extracellular Vesicles for Eliminating ‘Unwanted Molecules’: Harnessing Nature’s Structures in Modern Therapeutic Strategies

“…Recent studies suggest that EVs isolated from different types of stem cells may be a promising tool for combating aging-related inflammation and dysfunction of macromolecules [ 126 , 127 , 128 ]. EVs can transport a variety of bioactive molecules, such as microRNAs and proteins, that have the potential to modulate various cellular processes and promote tissue regeneration [ 129 ]. For example, EVs derived from stem cells have been shown to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair in various organs, such as the heart, liver, and kidney [ 130 ].…”

Microbiota and nutrition as risk and resiliency factors following prenatal alcohol exposure

“…Along with miR-122, additional EV cargo has been identified as potential biomarkers for alcohol-associated liver damage and disease (Cho et al, 2018). Altered EV dynamics and cargo have been implicated in diseases with developmental origins, for which prenatal exposure to stress and drugs of abuse, including PAE, may act as an "initial hit" to promote the development of these diseases (Pinson et al, 2021). In preclinical models, PAE has been shown to alter EVs in the developing brain.…”

The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Osteoporosis: A Scoping Review

“…Kian F Eichholz et al demonstrated that osteocytes can be mechanically activated to secrete EVs to regulate mesenchymal stem cell differentiation [ 48 ]. EVs not only play a therapeutic role in other diseases, but also play an important role in osteoporosis [ 28 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]. Based on Xin Qi et al, exosomes secreted by human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells repair critical-sized bone defects through enhanced angiogenesis and osteogenesis in osteoporotic rats [ 57 ].…”