Extracellular vesicles in health and disease: Emerging therapeutic applications

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized particles released by cells in vivo and mediate both physiological and pathological processes by transporting various bioactive molecules across the cells. The exchange of molecular cargo by exosomes influences several biological processes such as immune responses, tissue repair and tumour progression. Advancements in high-throughput technologies especially mass spectrometry and next-generation sequencing enabled the molecular profiling of EVs obtained from various cell types. Comprehensive characterization and quantification of EVs from diverse cell types under pathological versus physiological conditions emphasized their role in health and disease. Further, characterizing EVs in biological fluids offers a powerful, non-invasive approach for early and accurate disease diagnosis through liquid biopsy-based biomarker profiling. Despite rising veterinary interest, EV research is still predominantly centred on humans. Existing studies offer valuable insights into the potential of EVs as biomarkers and therapeutics in veterinary medicine. This highlights the need for species-specific studies on EVs associated with animal health. However, understanding the functional role of EV cargo in recipient cells, along with assessing the safety and potential immunogenicity of EV-based therapies, remains a critical challenge that must be addressed to enable their successful clinical translation.