Function of exosomes in neurological disorders and brain tumors

Abstract

Exosomes are a subtype of extracellular vesicles released from different cell types including those in the nervous system, and are enriched in a variety of bioactive molecules such as RNAs, proteins and lipids. Numerous studies have indicated that exosomes play a critical role in many physiological and pathological activities by facilitating intercellular communication and modulating cells’ responses to external environments. Particularly in the central nervous system, exosomes have been implicated to play a role in many neurological disorders such as abnormal neuronal development, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, mental disorders, stroke, brain injury and brain cancer. Since exosomes recapitulate the characteristics of the parental cells and have the capacity to cross the blood-brain barrier, their cargo can serve as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and clinical assessment of disease treatment. In this review, we describe the latest findings and current knowledge of the roles exosomes play in various neurological disorders and brain cancer, as well as their application as promising biomarkers. The potential use of exosomes to deliver therapeutic molecules to treat diseases of the central nervous system is also discussed.

Pericyte-derived extracellular vesicle-mimetic nanovesicles ameliorate erectile dysfunction via lipocalin 2 in diabetic mice

“…Emerging evidence has shown that EVs are not merely excreted cellular waste or by-products, but also a nano carrier-transport, delivering bioactive intra-cell materials to target cells and regulates biological activity of the recipient cells. [42] Pericytes shares mesenchymal stem cells characteristics and constitute as vital part of the neurovascular unit. [43] Pericyte loss is considered an early sign of diabetes-related microvascular diseases, such in retinopathy and nephropathy.…”

Exosomes and HIV-1 Association in AIDS-Defining Patients

“…The exosome played an important role in signalling in the central nervous system and acts as a potential vehicle to deliver various therapeutics to treat HIV neuroinflammation [54]. The exosomes played an important role in transporting cargo in many neurological disorders, such as mental disorders, brain injury, abnormal neuronal development, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, stroke, and brain cancer [55].…”

Extracellular vesicles in reproduction and pregnancy

“…Cancer is characterized by cells that divide uncontrollably and develop the ability to destroy normal body tissues. EVs have been involved in metastatic seeding which occurs when secondary tumors develop in tissues other than the tissue the cancer originated in [18] . EVs have also been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, prion disease and Alzheimer's disease [16,19] .…”