Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are submicron-sized lipid envelopes that are produced and released from a parent cell and can be taken up by a recipient cell. EVs are capable of mediating cellular signalling by carrying nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and cellular metabolites between cells and organs. Metabolic dysfunction is associated with changes in plasma concentrations of EVs as well as alterations in their EV cargo. Since EVs can act as messengers between parent and recipient cells, they could be involved in cell-to-cell and organ-to-organ communication in metabolic diseases. Recent literature has shown that EVs are produced by cells within metabolic tissues, such as adipose tissue, pancreas, muscle and liver. These vesicles have therefore been proposed as a novel intercellular communication mode in systemic metabolic regulation. In this review, we will describe and discuss the current literature that investigates the role of adipose-derived EVs in the regulation of obesity-associated metabolic disease. We will particularly focus on the EV-dependent communication between adipocytes, the vasculature and immune cells in type 2 diabetes.
Highlights
Metabolic disease Metabolic dysfunction is a collective term for the clustering of disease risk factors, including hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, obesity and insulin resistance
This review focuses on the discoveries and descriptions of Extracellular vesicles (EVs) in metabolic disease and the challenges faced to produce an effective EV diagnostic platform for metabolic disease phenotyping
There is limited information on how EV biogenesis pathways are implicated in metabolic disease and how these are altered to influence the release of EV and their cargo in individuals with metabolic disease
Summary
Metabolic disease Metabolic dysfunction is a collective term for the clustering of disease risk factors, including hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, obesity and insulin resistance. EVs can bear features (RNAs, DNA and lipids) of their parent cell of origin and may provide diagnostic and prognostic value in metabolic dysfunction [2–12]. Microvesicles and apoptotic bodies are characterised primarily by their size, isolation method and protein cargo, such as the presence of tetraspanins (CD63, CD81, CD9), ALG-2-interacting protein X (ALIX), tumour susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and annexin V, discrepancies exist and there is significant overlap between these individual subpopulations [17] (Fig. 1). Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of EVs from biological fluids allows soluble proteins to be separated from the EV pool but does not eliminate contamination with lipoproteins, and SEC EV samples often need to be further concentrated for additional EV analysis, such as proteomics [21] (see Text box: Methods of EV isolation and characterisation: principles, advantages and limitations).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
