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Wang X, Zheng Y, Cai H, Kou W, Yang C, Li S, Zhu B, Wu J, Zhang N, Feng T, Li X, Xiao F, Yu Z. α-Synuclein species in plasma neuron-derived extracellular vesicles as biomarkers for iRBD. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2024. [PMID: 39291779 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.52200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is considered as the strongest predictor of Parkinson's disease (PD). Reliable and accurate biomarkers for iRBD detection and the prediction of phenoconversion are in urgent need. This study aimed to investigate whether α-Synuclein (α-Syn) species in plasma neuron-derived extracellular vesicles (NDEVs) could differentiate between iRBD patients and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS Nanoscale flow cytometry was used to detect α-Syn-containing NDEVs in plasma. RESULTS A total of 54 iRBD patients and 53 HCs were recruited. The concentrations of total α-Syn, α-Syn aggregates, and phosphorylated α-Syn at Ser129 (pS129)-containing NDEVs in plasma of iRBD individuals were significantly higher than those in HCs (p < 0.0001 for all). In distinguishing between iRBD and HCs, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for an integrative model incorporating the levels of α-Syn, pS129, and α-Syn aggregate-containing NDEVs in plasma was 0.965. This model achieved a sensitivity of 94.3% and a specificity of 88.9%. In iRBD group, the concentrations of α-Syn aggregate-containing NDEVs exhibited a negative correlation with Sniffin' Sticks olfactory scores (r = -0.351, p = 0.039). Smokers with iRBD exhibited lower levels of α-Syn aggregates and pS129-containing NDEVs in plasma compared to nonsmokers (pα-Syn aggregates = 0.014; ppS129 = 0.003). INTERPRETATION The current study demonstrated that the levels of total α-Syn, α-Syn aggregates, and pS129-containing NDEVs in the plasma of individuals with iRBD were significantly higher compared to HCs. The levels of α-Syn species-containing NDEVs in plasma may serve as biomarkers for iRBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Wang
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanchu Zheng
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huihui Cai
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenyi Kou
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Yang
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Siming Li
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bingxu Zhu
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayi Wu
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology and Clinical Psychology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Feng
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Dalian Municipal Friendship Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Fulong Xiao
- Division of Sleep Medicine, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenwei Yu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Yu Z, Zheng Y, Cai H, Li S, Liu G, Kou W, Yang C, Cao S, Chen L, Liu X, Wan Z, Zhang N, Li X, Cui G, Chang Y, Huang Y, Lv H, Feng T. Molecular beacon-based detection of circulating microRNA-containing extracellular vesicle as an α-synucleinopathy biomarker. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl6442. [PMID: 38748787 PMCID: PMC11095448 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl6442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Early and precise diagnosis of α-synucleinopathies is challenging but critical. In this study, we developed a molecular beacon-based assay to evaluate microRNA-containing extracellular vesicles (EVs) in plasma. We recruited 1203 participants including healthy controls (HCs) and patients with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), α-synucleinopathies, or non-α-synucleinopathies from eight centers across China. Plasma miR-44438-containing EV levels were significantly increased in α-synucleinopathies, including those in the prodromal stage (e.g., iRBD), compared to both non-α-synucleinopathy patients and HCs. However, there are no significant differences between Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy. The miR-44438-containing EV levels negatively correlated with age and the Hoehn and Yahr stage of PD patients, suggesting a potential association with disease progression. Furthermore, a longitudinal analysis over 16.3 months demonstrated a significant decline in miR-44438-containing EV levels in patients with PD. These results highlight the potential of plasma miR-44438-containing EV as a biomarker for early detection and progress monitoring of α-synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenwei Yu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanchu Zheng
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huihui Cai
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Siming Li
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Genliang Liu
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenyi Kou
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Yang
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuangshuang Cao
- Department of Neurology, Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuedong Liu
- Department of Neurology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhirong Wan
- Department of Neurology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology and Clinical Psychology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Department of Neurology, Dalian Friendship Hospital, Dalian, China
| | - Guiyun Cui
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Ying Chang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yue Huang
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Human Brain and Tissue Bank, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Hong Lv
- Department of Clinical Diagnosis, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Feng
- Center for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Kim KY, Shin KY, Chang KA. Potential Exosome Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5307. [PMID: 38791346 PMCID: PMC11121363 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. Given its prevalence, reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis are required. Exosomal proteins within extracellular nanovesicles are promising candidates for diagnostic, screening, prognostic, and disease monitoring purposes in neurological diseases such as PD. This review aims to evaluate the potential of extracellular vesicle proteins or miRNAs as biomarkers for PD. A comprehensive literature search until January 2024 was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, to identify relevant studies reporting exosome biomarkers in blood samples from PD patients. Out of 417 articles screened, 47 studies were selected for analysis. Among exosomal protein biomarkers, α-synuclein, tau, Amyloid β 1-42, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) were identified as significant markers for PD. Concerning miRNA biomarkers, miRNA-24, miR-23b-3p, miR-195-3p, miR-29c, and mir-331-5p are promising across studies. α-synuclein exhibited increased levels in PD patients compared to control groups in twenty-one studies, while a decrease was observed in three studies. Our meta-analysis revealed a significant difference in total exosomal α-synuclein levels between PD patients and healthy controls (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.369, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.893 to 1.846, p < 0.001), although these results are limited by data availability. Furthermore, α-synuclein levels significantly differ between PD patients and healthy controls (SMD = 1.471, 95% CI = 0.941 to 2.002, p < 0.001). In conclusion, certain exosomal proteins and multiple miRNAs could serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and assessment of disease progression in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ka Young Kim
- Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea;
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Young Shin
- Bio-MAX Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun-A Chang
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon 21565, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea
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Cadoni MPL, Coradduzza D, Congiargiu A, Sedda S, Zinellu A, Medici S, Nivoli AM, Carru C. Platelet Dynamics in Neurodegenerative Disorders: Investigating the Role of Platelets in Neurological Pathology. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2102. [PMID: 38610867 PMCID: PMC11012481 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Neurological disorders, particularly those associated with aging, pose significant challenges in early diagnosis and treatment. The identification of specific biomarkers, such as platelets (PLTs), has emerged as a promising strategy for early detection and intervention in neurological health. This systematic review aims to explore the intricate relationship between PLT dynamics and neurological health, focusing on their potential role in cognitive functions and the pathogenesis of cognitive disorders. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search strategy was employed in the PubMed and Scholar databases to identify studies on the role of PLTs in neurological disorders published from 2013 to 2023. The search criteria included studies focusing on PLTs as biomarkers in neurological disorders, their dynamics, and their potential in monitoring disease progression and therapy effectiveness. Results: The systematic review included 104 studies, revealing PLTs as crucial biomarkers in neurocognitive disorders, acting as inflammatory mediators. The findings suggest that PLTs share common features with altered neurons, which could be utilised for monitoring disease progression and evaluating the effectiveness of treatments. PLTs are identified as significant biomarkers for detecting neurological disorders in their early stages and understanding the pathological events leading to neuronal death. Conclusions: The systematic review underscores the critical role of PLTs in neurological disorders, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for the early detection and monitoring of disease progression. However, it also emphasises the need for further research to solidify the use of PLTs in neurological disorders, aiming to enhance early diagnosis and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Stefania Sedda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Angelo Zinellu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Serenella Medici
- Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Matilde Nivoli
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Psychiatric Unit Clinic of the University Hospital, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Ciriaco Carru
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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Kumar A, Nader MA, Deep G. Emergence of Extracellular Vesicles as "Liquid Biopsy" for Neurological Disorders: Boom or Bust. Pharmacol Rev 2024; 76:199-227. [PMID: 38351075 PMCID: PMC10877757 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as an attractive liquid biopsy approach in the diagnosis and prognosis of multiple diseases and disorders. The feasibility of enriching specific subpopulations of EVs from biofluids based on their unique surface markers has opened novel opportunities to gain molecular insight from various tissues and organs, including the brain. Over the past decade, EVs in bodily fluids have been extensively studied for biomarkers associated with various neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorders, substance use disorders, human immunodeficiency virus-associated neurocognitive disorder, and cancer/treatment-induced neurodegeneration. These studies have focused on the isolation and cargo characterization of either total EVs or brain cells, such as neuron-, astrocyte-, microglia-, oligodendrocyte-, pericyte-, and endothelial-derived EVs from biofluids to achieve early diagnosis and molecular characterization and to predict the treatment and intervention outcomes. The findings of these studies have demonstrated that EVs could serve as a repetitive and less invasive source of valuable molecular information for these neurological disorders, supplementing existing costly neuroimaging techniques and relatively invasive measures, like lumbar puncture. However, the initial excitement surrounding blood-based biomarkers for brain-related diseases has been tempered by challenges, such as lack of central nervous system specificity in EV markers, lengthy protocols, and the absence of standardized procedures for biological sample collection, EV isolation, and characterization. Nevertheless, with rapid advancements in the EV field, supported by improved isolation methods and sensitive assays for cargo characterization, brain cell-derived EVs continue to offer unparallel opportunities with significant translational implications for various neurological disorders. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Extracellular vesicles present a less invasive liquid biopsy approach in the diagnosis and prognosis of various neurological disorders. Characterizing these vesicles in biofluids holds the potential to yield valuable molecular information, thereby significantly impacting the development of novel biomarkers for various neurological disorders. This paper has reviewed the methodology employed to isolate extracellular vesicles derived from various brain cells in biofluids, their utility in enhancing the molecular understanding of neurodegeneration, and the potential challenges in this research field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Kumar
- Departments of Cancer Biology (A.K., G.D.), Physiology and Pharmacology (M.A.N.), Radiology (M.A.N.), and Center for Addiction Research (M.A.N., G.D.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (G.D.); and Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (G.D.)
| | - Michael A Nader
- Departments of Cancer Biology (A.K., G.D.), Physiology and Pharmacology (M.A.N.), Radiology (M.A.N.), and Center for Addiction Research (M.A.N., G.D.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (G.D.); and Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (G.D.)
| | - Gagan Deep
- Departments of Cancer Biology (A.K., G.D.), Physiology and Pharmacology (M.A.N.), Radiology (M.A.N.), and Center for Addiction Research (M.A.N., G.D.), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (G.D.); and Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (G.D.)
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Ma Y, Jiang Q, Yang B, Hu X, Shen G, Shen W, Xu J. Platelet mitochondria, a potent immune mediator in neurological diseases. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1210509. [PMID: 37719457 PMCID: PMC10502307 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1210509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of the immune response is regarded as a prominent feature of neurological diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, malignant tumors, acute neurotraumatic insult, and cerebral ischemic/hemorrhagic diseases. Platelets play a fundamental role in normal hemostasis and thrombosis. Beyond those normal functions, platelets are hyperactivated and contribute crucially to inflammation and immune responses in the central nervous system (CNS). Mitochondria are pivotal organelles in platelets and are responsible for generating most of the ATP that is used for platelet activation and aggregation (clumping). Notably, platelet mitochondria show marked morphological and functional alterations under heightened inflammatory/oxidative stimulation. Mitochondrial dysfunction not only leads to platelet damage and apoptosis but also further aggravates immune responses. Improving mitochondrial function is hopefully an effective strategy for treating neurological diseases. In this review, the authors discuss the immunomodulatory roles of platelet-derived mitochondria (PLT-mitos) in neurological diseases and summarize the neuroprotective effects of platelet mitochondria transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Ma
- Transfusion Research Department, Wuhan Blood Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Institute of Blood Transfusion of Hubei Province, Wuhan Blood Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qian Jiang
- Transfusion Research Department, Wuhan Blood Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Institute of Blood Transfusion of Hubei Province, Wuhan Blood Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingxin Yang
- Wuhan Puai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Transfusion Research Department, Wuhan Blood Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Institute of Blood Transfusion of Hubei Province, Wuhan Blood Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Shen
- Transfusion Research Department, Wuhan Blood Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Institute of Blood Transfusion of Hubei Province, Wuhan Blood Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wei Shen
- Wuhan Puai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Wuhan Blood Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Couch Y. Challenges associated with using extracellular vesicles as biomarkers in neurodegenerative disease. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2023; 23:1091-1105. [PMID: 37916853 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2023.2277373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The hunt for new biomarkers - for the diagnosis of subcategories of disease, or for the monitoring of the efficacy of novel therapeutics - is an increasingly relevant challenge in the current era of precision medicine. In neurodegenerative research, the aim is to look for simple tools which can predict cognitive or motor decline early, and to determine whether these can also be used to test the efficacy of new interventions. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are thought to play an important role in intercellular communication and have been shown to play a vital role in a number of diseases. AREAS COVERED The aim of this review is to examine what we know about EVs in neurodegeneration and to discuss their potential to be diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in the future. It will cover the techniques used to isolate and study EVs and what is currently known about their presence in neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, we will discuss what is required for standardization in biomarker research, and the challenges associated with using EVs within this framework. EXPERT OPINION The technical challenges associated with isolating EVs consistently, combined with the complex techniques required for their efficient analysis, might preclude 'pure' EV populations from being used as effective biomarkers. Whilst biomarker discovery is important for more effective diagnosis, monitoring, prediction and prognosis in neurodegenerative disease, reproducibility and ease-of-use should be the priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Couch
- Acute Stroke Program, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
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