Diagnosis of Extracellular Vesicles in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases

Early detection and identification of those with or at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic dysfunction is crucial for improving disease management and prognosis. Given the complex, multifactorial nature of the pathogenesis of the CVD and metabolic dysfunction, it is essential to have biomarkers that encompass the multiple facets of disease development. The uniquely ubiquitous nature and functionality of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in various disease pathologies can provide novel insight into both diagnosis and prognosis while further improving assessments used in clinical and research practice. Herein we summarize the use of EV count and content (including miRNA and protein) in diagnosis of CVD, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes (T2D), as well as highlight the potential utility for enhancing determination of prognosis and long-term complications in these clinical populations. Although the results are promising, future work is needed in both methodology and in relation to other factors such as sex and medications, in order to apply these findings in clinical practice.