Abstract
In the last decades extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as key players for intercellular communication. In the case of inflammation, several studies have reported that EV levels are increased in circulation during inflammatory episodes. Based on this, we investigated whether aging results in elevated EV number, as a basal proinflammatory status termed “inflammaging” has been described in aged individuals. Moreover, we also hypothesized that frailty and dependence conditions of the elderly could affect EV concentration in plasma. Results showed that inflammaging, frailty or dependence status do not result in EV increase, at least in the total number of EVs in circulation. These results open a new perspective for investigating the role of EVs in human aging and in the inflammaging process.
Highlights
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-coated particles of endosomal or plasma membrane origin that are secreted to the extracellular environment
Based on the previously mentioned increase of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) during inflammatory episodes, we proposed that this could be observed in aged individuals as a result of inflammaging
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Concentration Is Increased in the Elderly
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-coated particles of endosomal or plasma membrane origin that are secreted to the extracellular environment They play an essential role for indirect intercellular communication as their membrane and cytosolic proteins, lipids and genetic material can be transferred between cells [1]. We designed an approach to evaluate if the concentration of EVs in plasma could be related to the frailty status of old people—frailty status as defined by the Barthel Index [9] and the Tilburg Frailty Index [10] These tests are applied to evaluate and measure the frailty and dependence status of the elderly, which could be related to an increased chronic proinflammatory condition
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