Chapters authored
The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Progression of ALS and Their Potential as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Agents with Which to Combat the Disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that impairs motor neuron function, leading to severe muscular atrophy. The non-cell autonomous and heterogeneous nature of the disease has so far hindered attempts to define ALS etiology, leaving the disease incurable and without effective treatments. Recent studies have focused on the pathologic role of intercellular communication between nerve cells to further our understanding of ALS pathophysiology. In this chapter, we summarize recent works investigating the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a means of cellular crosstalk for ALS disease propagation, diagnosis, and treatment. There is growing evidence that EVs secreted by the majority of mammalian cells serve as effective biomolecule carriers to modulate recipient cell behavior. This underscores the need to understand the EV-mediated interplay that occurs within irreversibly degenerating nervous tissue in ALS patients. Additionally, we highlight current gaps in EV-ALS research, especially in terms of the pathologic role and responsibilities of specific EV cargos in diseased cells, specificity issues associated with the use of EVs in ALS diagnosis, and the efficacy of EV-mediated treatments for the restoration of diseased neuromuscular tissue. Finally, we provide suggestions for future EV-ALS research to better understand, diagnose, and cure this inveterate disease.
Part of the book: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis