Endocrine Abstracts

Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized bilayer membrane particles mainly released by platelets, inflammatory, endothelial cells and cancer cells, which play a pivotal role in inter-cellular communication. EV cargo, which consists of RNAs, proteins, DNA, and lipids, reflects the cell of origin and its activation state and the microenvironment; for this reason, it can be used as source of potential biomarkers in several conditions related to tumour development/progression, inflammation, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, cardiometabolic diseases can advantage of EVs for diagnostic/prognostic (theranostic) purposes. Recent advances in -omics technologies combined with artificial intelligence approaches allow high-throughput analysis, with the possibility to generate a biomolecular signature featuring a specific pathophysiological condition. An increase of specific EV sub-populations may even anticipate the rise of conventional biomarkers which usually require cell death or tissue necrosis (i.e., the rise of hs-troponin after cardiomyocyte death in cardiac ischemic disease). A change in EV secretome is expected in suffering, but still alive cells, thus providing great advantage for early diagnosis. Data on the impact of EV for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in cardiometabolic settings will be discussed.