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Extracellular Vesicles: From Biomarkers to Therapeutic Tools.

  • Bernardi S Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
  • Balbi C Cellular & Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, Cardiocentro Ticino, Associated Institute of University of Zurich, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland.
  • 2020-09-04
Published in:
  • Biology. - 2020
biomarkers
drug carrier
exosomes
extracellular vesicle engineering and isolation
extracellular vesicles
liquid biopsy
English Intercellular communication is an essential hallmark of multicellular organisms and can be mediated through direct cell-cell contact or transfer of secreted molecules. In the last two decades, a third mechanism for intercellular communication has emerged that involves intercellular transfer of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are membranous vesicles of 30-5000 nm in size. Based on their dimension and biogenesis, EVs can be divided into different categories, such as microvesicles, apoptotic bodies, ectosomes, and exosomes. It has already been demonstrated that protein changes, expressed on the surfaces or in the content of these vesicles, may reflect the status of producing cells. For this reason, EVs, and exosomes in particular, are considered ideal biomarkers in several types of disease-from cancer diagnosis to heart rejection. This aspect opens different opportunities in EVs clinical application, considering the importance given to liquid biopsy in the recent years. Furthermore, extracellular vesicles can be natural or engineered carriers of cytoprotective or cytotoxic factors and applied, as a therapeutic tool, from regenerative medicine to target cancer therapy. This is of pivotal importance in the so called "era of the 4P medicine". This Editorial focuses on recent findings pertaining to EVs in different medical areas, from biomarkers to therapeutic applications.
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  • English
Open access status
gold
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https://sonar.ch/global/documents/200508
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