Large Extracellular Vesicles: Have We Found the Holy Grail of Inflammation?

Front Immunol. 2018 Dec 13:9:2723. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02723. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The terms microparticles (MPs) and microvesicles (MVs) refer to large extracellular vesicles (EVs) generated from a broad spectrum of cells upon its activation or death by apoptosis. The unique surface antigens of MPs/MVs allow for the identification of their cellular origin as well as its functional characterization. Two basic aspects of MP/MV functions in physiology and pathological conditions are widely considered. Firstly, it has become evident that large EVs have strong procoagulant properties. Secondly, experimental and clinical studies have shown that MPs/MVs play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of inflammation-associated disorders. A cardinal feature of these disorders is an enhanced generation of platelets-, endothelial-, and leukocyte-derived EVs. Nevertheless, anti-inflammatory effects of miscellaneous EV types have also been described, which provided important new insights into the large EV-inflammation axis. Advances in understanding the biology of MPs/MVs have led to the preparation of this review article aimed at discussing the association between large EVs and inflammation, depending on their cellular origin.

Keywords: endothelial-derived microvesicles; inflammation; leukocyte-derived microvesicles; microvesicles and exosomes; platelet-derived microvesicles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Extracellular Vesicles / immunology*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / pathology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / pathology