The potential role of circulating exosomes in protecting myocardial injury in acute myocardial infarction via regulating miR-190a-3p/CXCR4/CXCL12 pathway

Unlocking the Potential of Extracellular Vesicles in Cardiovascular Disease

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are micro-nanoscale biological particles encapsulated by phospholipid bilayers, which regulate cell migration, angiogenesis and tumour cell growth by transmitting various biomolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins. EVs are composed of exosomes, microparticles and apoptotic bodies. Its benefits pass through biofilms and are not degraded by various enzymes, so it can be used as a biomarker in potential diseases and has attracted much attention from researchers. Current studies have found that EVs are involved in the development of various cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as heart failure and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. In addition, stem cell-derived EVs play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of CVD. In this review, we present the biological features of EVs, the role of EVs in various CVD, and the challenges they encounter in the treatment of CVD.

Extraction of coronary thrombus-derived exosomes from patients with acute myocardial infarction and its effect on the function of adventitial cells

BACKGROUND

Type I acute myocardial infarction (T1MI) has a very high morbidity and mortality rate. The role of thrombus-derived exosomes (TEs) in T1MI is unclear.

METHODS

The objective of this study was to identify the optimal thrombolytic drug and concentration for extracting TEs. To this end, a series of time and concentration combinations were tested. Subsequently, the effect of TEs on thrombus-adjacent cells was investigated. Finally, we conducted lncRNA microarray analysis on the extracted TEs (GSE213115).

RESULTS

TEs has been demonstrated to promote necrosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis of human cardiomyocytes, while inhibiting the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, TEs can stimulate the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells, and induce a transformation from a contractile to a secretory phenotype. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that five lncRNAs, AC068418.2, AC010186.3, AL031430.1, AC121333.1, and AL136526.1, exhibited significant differential expression in TE and regulated cell autophagy and ferroptosis by directly binding to TP53, TP63, and RELA, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that TEs as a potential target and research direction for the treatment of heart failure after T1MI. TEs may regulate ferroptosis and autophagy in thrombus-adjacent cells through the enrichment of certain lncRNAs.

Distinct mRNA expression profiles and miRNA regulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in breast cancer: insights into tumor progression and therapeutic targets

Background

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women, driven by the molecular complexity of its various subtypes. This study aimed to investigate the differential expression of genes and miRNAs involved in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, a critical regulator of cancer progression.

Methods

We analyzed tumor tissues from five breast cancer subtypes-luminal A, luminal B HER2-negative, luminal B HER2-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)-and compared them with non-cancerous tissues. Microarray and qRT-PCR techniques were employed to profile mRNAs and miRNAs, while bioinformatic tools predicted miRNA-mRNA interactions. Statistical analysis was performed with a statistical significance threshold (p) < 0.05.

Results

We identified several upregulated genes across all subtypes, with TNBC and HER2-positive cancers showing the most significant changes. Key genes such as COL1A1, COL4A1, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, and mTOR were found to be overexpressed, correlating with increased cancer aggressiveness. miRNA analysis revealed that miR-190a-3p, miR-4729, and miR-19a-3p potentially regulate these genes, influencing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. For instance, reduced expression of miR-190a-3p may contribute to the overexpression of PIK3CA and other pathway components, enhancing metastatic potential.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its miRNA regulators play crucial roles in breast cancer progression, particularly in aggressive subtypes like TNBC. The identified miRNAs and mRNAs hold potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment, but further validation in functional studies is required. This study provides a foundation for targeted therapies aimed at modulating this critical pathway to improve breast cancer outcomes.

Small extracellular vesicles associated miRNA in myocardial fibrosis

Myocardial fibrosis involves the loss of cardiomyocytes, myocardial fibroblast proliferation, and a reduction in angiogenesis, ultimately leading to heart failure, Given its significant implications, it is crucial to explore novel therapies for myocardial fibrosis. Recently one emerging avenue has been the use of small extracellular vesicles (sEV)-carried miRNA. In this review, we summarize the regulatory role of sEV-carried miRNA in myocardial fibrosis. We explored not only the potential diagnostic value of circulating miRNA as biomarkers for heart disease but also the therapeutic implications of sEV-carried miRNA derived from various cellular sources and applications of modified sEV. This exploration is paramount for researchers striving to develop innovative, cell-free therapies as potential drug candidates for the management of myocardial fibrosis.

Research progress of exosomes from different sources in myocardial ischemia

Ischemic heart disease refers to the imbalance between the supply and demand of myocardial blood; it has various causes and results in a class of clinical diseases characterized by myocardial ischemia (MI). In recent years, the incidence of cardiovascular disease has become higher and higher, and the number of patients with ischemic heart disease has also increased year by year. Traditional treatment methods include drug therapy and surgical treatment, both of which have limitations. The former maybe develop risks of drug resistance and has more significant side effects, while the latter may damage blood vessels and risk infection. At this stage, a new cell-free treatment method needs to be explored. Many research results have shown that exosomes from different cell sources can protect the ischemic myocardium via intercellular action methods, such as promoting angiogenesis, inhibiting myocardial fibrosis, apoptosis and pyroptosis, and providing a new basis for the treatment of MI. In this review, we briefly introduce the formation and consequences of myocardial ischemia and the biology of exosomes, and then focus on the role and mechanism of exosomes from different sources in MI. We also discuss the role and mechanism of exosomes pretreated with Chinese and Western medicines on myocardial ischemia. We also discuss the potential of exosomes as diagnostic markers and therapeutic drug for MI.

The role of extracellular vesicle fusion with target cells in triggering systemic inflammation

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in intercellular communication by transferring bioactive molecules from donor to recipient cells. As a result, EV fusion leads to the modulation of cellular functions and has an impact on both physiological and pathological processes in the recipient cell. This study explores the impact of EV fusion on cellular responses to inflammatory signaling. Our findings reveal that fusion renders non-responsive cells susceptible to inflammatory signaling, as evidenced by increased NF-κB activation and the release of inflammatory mediators. Syntaxin-binding protein 1 is essential for the merge and activation of intracellular signaling. Subsequent analysis show that EVs transfer their functionally active receptors to target cells, making them prone to an otherwise unresponsive state. EVs in complex with their agonist, require no further stimulation of the target cells to trigger mobilization of NF-κB. While receptor antagonists were unable to inhibit NF-κB activation, blocking of the fusion between EVs and their target cells with heparin mitigated inflammation in mice challenged with EVs.

Mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of extracellular vesicles in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) significantly impacts global society since it is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and extracellular vesicle (EV)-based therapies have been extensively investigated. EV delivery is involved in mediating the progression of CVDs and has great potential to be biomarker and therapeutic molecular carrier. Besides, EVs from stem cells and cardiac cells can effectively protect the heart from various pathologic conditions, and then serve as an alternative treatment for CVDs. Moreover, the research of using EVs as delivery carriers of therapeutic molecules, membrane engineering modification of EVs, or combining EVs with biomaterials further improves the application potential of EVs in clinical treatment. However, currently there are only a few articles summarizing the application of EVs in CVDs. This review provides an overview of the role of EVs in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of CVDs. It also focuses on how EVs promote the repair of myocardial injury and therapeutic methods of CVDs. In conclusion, it is of great significance to review the research on the application of EVs in the treatment of CVDs, which lays a foundation for further exploration of the role of EVs, and clarifies the prospect of EVs in the treatment of myocardial injury.

Extracellular vesicles in cardiovascular diseases: From pathophysiology to diagnosis and therapy

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), encompassing exosomes, microvesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies (ABs), are cell-derived heterogeneous nanoparticles with a pivotal role in intercellular communication. EVs are enclosed by a lipid-bilayer membrane to escape enzymatic degradation. EVs contain various functional molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and metabolites) which can be transferred from donor cells to recipient cells. EVs provide many advantages including accessibility, modifiability and easy storage, stability, biocompatibility, heterogeneity and they readily penetrate through biological barriers, making EVs ideal and promising candidates for diagnosis/prognosis biomarkers and therapeutic tools. Recently, EVs were implicated in both physiological and pathophysiological settings of cardiovascular system through regulation of cell-cell communication. Numerous studies have reported a role for EVs in the pathophysiological progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and have evaluated the utility of EVs for the diagnosis/prognosis and therapeutics of CVDs. In this review, we summarize the biology of EVs, evaluate the perceived biological function of EVs in different CVDs along with a consideration of recent progress for the application of EVs in diagnosis/prognosis and therapies of CVDs.

Endothelial progenitor cells in pregnancy-related diseases

Placental neovascularization plays a crucial role in fetomaternal circulation throughout pregnancy and is dysregulated in several pregnancy-related diseases, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and fetal growth restriction. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a heterogeneous population of cells that differentiate into mature endothelial cells, which influence vascular homeostasis, neovascularization, and endothelial repair. Since their discovery in 1997 by Asahara et al., the role of EPCs in vascular biology has garnered a lot of interest. However, although pregnancy-related conditions are associated with changes in the number and function of EPCs, the reported findings are conflicting. This review discusses the discovery, isolation, and classification of EPCs and highlights discrepancies between current studies. Overviews of how various diseases affect the numbers and functions of EPCs, the role of EPCs as biomarkers of pregnancy disorders, and the potential therapeutic applications involving EPCs are also provided.