Adriana Georgescu

By Mihaela Gherghiceanu, Nicoleta Alexandru, Stefania Lucia Magda, Alina Constantin, Miruna Nemecz, Alexandru Filippi, Octavian Costin Ioghen, Laura Cristina Ceafalan, Florina Bojin, Gabriela Tanko, Virgil Paunescu, Dragos Vinereanu, Ewa Stepien and Adriana Georgescu

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles released in the extracellular space from all cell types in physiological and pathological conditions and emerge as a new way of cell-cell communication by transferring their biological contents into target cells. The levels and composition of circulating EVs differ from a normal condition to a pathological one, making them real circulating biomarkers. EVs have a very complex contribution in both health and disease, most likely in relationship between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The involvement of EVs to the development of cardiovascular complications in diabetes remains an open discussion for therapists. Circulating EVs may offer a continuous access path to circulating information on the disease state and a new perspective in finding a correct diagnosis, in estimating a prognosis and also in applying an effective therapy. Besides their role as biomarkers and targets for therapy, EVs can be exploited as biological tools in influencing the different processes affected in diabetic cardiovascular diseases. This chapter will summarize the current knowledge about EVs as biological vectors modulating diabetic cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Finally, we will point out EVs’ considerable value as clinical biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and potential biomedical tools for the discovery of effective therapy in diabetic cardiovascular diseases.

Part of the book: Extracellular Vesicles and Their Importance in Human Health

By Laura Cristina Ceafalan, Octavian Costin Ioghen, Daciana Silvia Marta, Alina Constantin, Nicoleta Alexandru, Miruna Nemecz, Gabriela Tanko, Alexandru Filippi, Stefania Lucia Magda, Florina Bojin, Virgil Paunescu, Dragos Vinereanu, Adriana Georgescu and Mihaela Gherghiceanu

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.

Part of the book: Extracellular Vesicles and Their Importance in Human Health