Functional roles of exosomes in cardiovascular disorders: a systematic review

H.-J. Sun, X.-X. Zhu, W.-W. Cai, L.-Y. Qiu

Department of Basic Medicine, Wuxi Medical School, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, P.R. China. qiulydoc@sina.com

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• Cardiology

Cardiovascular diseases are major causes of people death associated with high mortality and disability. Exosomes are nanosized extracellular vesicles containing protein, lipid, transcription factors, mRNAs, non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and nucleic acid contents, which are critical players of intercellular communication via long-range signals or cell-to-cell contact. The emergence of exosomes provides favorable strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Exosomes-based molecular mechanisms are important for developing novel therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular events. In this review, we will (1) provide insights into the detrimental and beneficial effects of exosomes on cardiovascular physiology, (2) summarize the underlying biological mechanisms of the exosome in cardiovascular events, (3) investigate the therapeutic value of exosomes for cardiovascular disorders.

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