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Biological function of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs): a review of the field

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Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) theranostic potential is under intense investigation. There is a wealth of information highlighting the role that EVs and the secretome play in disease and how these are being utilized for clinical trials and novel therapeutic possibilities. However, understanding of the physiological and pathological roles of EVs remain incomplete. The challenge lies in reaching a consensus concerning standardized quality-controlled isolation, storage, and sample preparation parameters. Interest in circulating EV cargo as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is steadily growing. Though promising, various limitations need to be addressed before there can be successful, full-scale therapeutic use of approved EVs. These limitations include obtaining or manufacturing from the appropriate medium (e.g., from bodily fluid or cell culture), loading and isolating EVs, stability, and storage, standardization of processing, and determining potency. This review highlights specific topics, including circulation of abnormal EVs contribute to human disease and the theranostic potential of EVs. Theranostics is defined as a combination of the word’s therapeutics and diagnostics and describes how a specific medicine or technique can function as both. Key findings include, (1) EVs and the secretome are future theranostics which will be utilized as both biomarkers for diagnosis and as therapeutics, (2) basic and translational research supports clinical trials utilizing EVs/secretome, and (3) additional investigation is required to fully unmask the theranostic potential of EVs/secretome in specific diseases and injuries.

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Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Army Medical Department, Department of the Army, DoD, or the U.S. Government.

Military Relevance

Future Combat Casualty Care may indeed utilize EV and/or secretome based therapeutics to treat wounded Soldiers on the battlefield. EV/secretome theranostics could potentially be used in all aspects of medical care that support the overall readiness of the Soldier.

Funding

This research was supported by Combat Casualty Care Research Program (CCCRP, MR190014).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pain and Sensory Trauma Care, Combat Research Team 5 (CRT5), US Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), 3698 Chambers Pass, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, 78234-4504, USA

    Arezoo Mohammadipoor, Megan R. Hershfield, James Smith, James Mack, Shanmugasundaram Natesan, Thomas R. Stark & Natasha M. Sosanya

  2. Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA

    Hans R. Linsenbardt

  3. Texas Woman’s University (TWU), Denton, TX, USA

    Dayna L. Averitt

Authors
  1. Arezoo Mohammadipoor
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  2. Megan R. Hershfield
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  3. Hans R. Linsenbardt
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  4. James Smith
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  5. James Mack
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  6. Shanmugasundaram Natesan
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  7. Dayna L. Averitt
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  8. Thomas R. Stark
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  9. Natasha M. Sosanya
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Contributions

Dr. NS coordinated all author’s sections, edited all sections, and wrote section “Conclusions” and made Fig. 2. Dr. AM wrote “EV Structure and Content” section edited manuscript, made supplemental figure, and made Fig. 1. MH wrote “Biomarker potential of EVs” section. Dr. HL wrote “Therapeutic potential of EVs” section. JS wrote section “Contribution to mental health”. Dr. Averitt wrote “Sex Differences in EVs” section. Dr. SN wrote “EV isolation technique” section. JS and JM wrote “EVs contribution to mental health” section. Dr. Stark edited the manuscript extensively.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Natasha M. Sosanya.

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Mohammadipoor, A., Hershfield, M.R., Linsenbardt, H.R. et al. Biological function of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs): a review of the field. Mol Biol Rep 50, 8639–8651 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-08624-w

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