Part Two: Extracellular Vesicles as a Risk Factor in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) involved in the intercellular communication hold cell-specific cargos that contain proteins, various species of RNA and lipids. EVs are emerging as powerful tools for diagnosis and therapy in most diseases but little is known about their role in central nervous system (CNS) physiology or disease. Considering the extraordinary intricated cytoarchitecture of the brain, the implication of EVs in its pathophysiology is difficult to establish. Blood circulating EVs derived from local or distant vascular cells or EVs released from brain into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may influence the brain activity. EVs released in the blood stream from various tissues may influence the brain by passing through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or through choroid plexus. Since the choroid plexus has also a clearance role, it might be possible that EVs carrying brain abnormal proteins to pass into the blood can be detected. Thus, considering that EVs are specialized cargos bearing combined signals between cells, they might be an interesting therapy target in the future for both regulating neurogenesis and abnormal protein clearance. We present here data gathered about EVs that may influence the CNS functionality and be involved in most common neurodegenerative diseases.