The Contrasting Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Vascular Inflammation and Tissue Repair

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles are a heterogeneous family of vesicles, generated from different subcellular compartments and released into the extracellular space. Composed of a lipid bilayer encompassing both soluble cytosolic material and nuclear components, these organelles have been recently described as novel regulators of intercellular communication between adjacent and remote cells. Due to their diversified composition and biological content, they portray specific signatures of cellular activation and pathological processes, their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers has raised significant interest in cardiovascular diseases. Circulating vesicles, especially those released from platelets, leukocytes, and endothelial cells are found to play a critical role in activating several fundamental cells within the vasculature, including endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Their intrinsic activity and immunomodulatory properties lends them to not only promote vascular inflammation, but also enhance tissue regeneration, vascular repair, and indeed resolution. In this review we aim to recapitulate the recent findings concerning the roles played by EVs that originate from different circulating cells, with particular reference to their action on the endothelium. We focus herein, on the interaction of platelet and leukocyte EVs with the endothelium. In addition, their potential biological function in promoting tissue resolution and vascular repair will also be discussed.

Annexin A1–dependent tethering promotes extracellular vesicle aggregation revealed with single–extracellular vesicle analysis

“…EVs act as mediators of cell-cell communication via transporting protein, lipid, and nucleic acid cargos that are important for maintaining proper cell and organ homeostasis. EVs contribute to regulation of inflammation, tissue repair, and regeneration processes ( 31 ). How this goes awry in pathological conditions like cardiovascular calcification leading to changes in EV cargos and aggregation is not clear.…”

Circulating Extracellular Vesicles and Endothelial Damage in Sickle Cell Disease

“…When circulating EVs encounter endothelial cells, they can affect their behavior, either through interactions at the cell surface or by transfer of contents (including proteins, lipids, DNA, mRNA, and microRNAs) carrying signals from their cell of origin. Therefore, EVs (particularly exosomes, which contain nucleic acids) are thought to play a role in regulating endothelial responses to damage (Ridger et al, 2017;Oggero et al, 2019).…”

Large Extracellular Vesicles—A New Frontier of Liquid Biopsy in Oncology

“…On the other hand, Nanou et al revealed that leukocytes are also able to release L-EVs [ 54 ]. Although the authors did not prove any evidence on their possible function, other studies demonstrated that leucocyte-derived EVs play an important role in the regulation of the leukocyte-endothelial interaction [ 55 ], thus suggesting a possible implication in tumor progression by favoring cancer cell intravasation and dissemination to metastatic sites.…”