Extracellular Vesicles: Versatile Nanomediators, Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Agents in Atherosclerosis and COVID-19-Related Thrombosis

Abstract

Cells convey information among one another. One instrument employed to transmit data and constituents to specific (target) cells is extracellular vesicles (EVs). They originate from a variety of cells (endothelial, immune cells, platelets, mesenchymal stromal cells, etc.), and consequently, their surface characteristics and cargo vary according to the paternal cell. The cargo could be DNA, mRNA, microRNA, receptors, metabolites, cytoplasmic proteins, or pathological molecules, as a function of which EVs exert different effects upon endocytosis in recipient cells. Recently, EVs have become important participants in a variety of pathologies, including atherogenesis and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated thrombosis. Herein, we summarize recent advances and some of our own results on the role of EVs in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, and discuss their potential to function as signaling mediators, biomarkers and therapeutic agents. Since COVID-19 patients have a high rate of thrombotic events, a special section of the review is dedicated to the mechanism of thrombosis and the possible therapeutic potential of EVs in COVID-19-related thrombosis. Yet, EV mechanisms and their role in the transfer of information between cells in normal and pathological conditions remain to be explored.

Extracellular Vesicles and Thrombosis: Update on the Clinical and Experimental Evidence

“…Future studies in this direction will shed more light on the specific contribution of EVs to the coagulopathy in COVID-19 or other viral infections associated with an increased risk of thrombosis [224] and also clarify their role as mediators of thromboinflammation, biomarkers of disease severity or therapeutic vehicles. Please also see the review article by Adriana Georgescu and Maya Simionescu for more details [225].…”

The implications of exosomes in pregnancy: emerging as new diagnostic markers and therapeutics targets

“…The cargo presents the originating cell and pathophysiological states, e.g., in autoimmune sicknesses and cancer [ 1 ]. All cells, eukaryotes, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes release EVs as a part of their normal physiology during acquired abnormalities [ 2 ]. EVs can be classified by their biogenetic pathway, physical characteristics, and composition.…”

Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Atherosclerosis-Induced Vascular Dysfunction and Its Key Molecular Players

“…These vesicles are rich in lipids, proteins, and microRNAs (miRNAs) and have the ability to regulate posttranscriptional gene expression in target cells ( Constantin, Filippi, Alexandru, Nemecz, & Georgescu, 2020 ). The data claim that after their release into the circulation, they would fuse with the target cells using receptor–ligand structures, transferring inflammatory cellular components that originate from the source cells to the recipient cells ( Georgescu & Simionescu, 2021 ). In this way, they become nanocarriers that could also carry a separate class of endogenous miRNAs, affecting gene and protein expression, aggravating the evolution of the pathology as a whole; thus, they can be seen as biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction when their circulating levels are increased ( Georgescu et al, 2009 ; Georgescu et al, 2012 ).…”