Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Helen B. Taussig Heart Center, The Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2021 May 1;320(5):H1749-H1761. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00925.2020. Epub 2021 Mar 5.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized lipid bilayer-delimited particles released from cells that mediate intercellular communications and play a pivotal role in various physiological and pathological processes. Subtypes of EVs may include plasma membrane ectosomes or microvesicles and endosomal origin exosomes, although functional distinctions remain unclear. EVs carry cargo proteins, nucleic acids (RNA and DNA), lipids, and metabolites. By presenting or transferring this cargo to recipient cells, EVs can trigger cellular responses. We summarize contemporary understanding of EV biogenesis, composition, and function, with an emphasis on the role of EVs in the cardiovascular system. In addition, we outline the functional relevance of EVs in cardiovascular pathophysiology, further highlighting their potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
细胞外囊泡 (EVs) 是由细胞释放的具有纳米大小脂质双层的囊泡，介导细胞间通讯，并在各种生理和病理过程中发挥关键作用。EVs 的亚型可能包括质膜胞外体或微泡和内体起源的外泌体，尽管其功能区别尚不清楚。EVs 携带货物蛋白、核酸（RNA 和 DNA）、脂质和代谢物。通过向靶细胞呈现或转移这些货物，EVs 可以触发细胞反应。我们总结了对 EV 生物发生、组成和功能的现代认识，重点介绍了 EV 在心血管系统中的作用。此外，我们概述了 EV 在心血管病理生理学中的功能相关性，进一步强调了它们在诊断和治疗应用中的潜力。
