Mignini I, Piccirilli G, Termite F, Paratore M, Esposto G, Laterza L, Scaldaferri F, Ainora ME, Gasbarrini A, Zocco MA. Extracellular Vesicles: Novel Potential Therapeutic Agents in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Cells 2023;
13:90. [PMID:
38201294 PMCID:
PMC10778449 DOI:
10.3390/cells13010090]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients affected by inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can nowadays benefit from a growing number of pharmacological options. However, in moderate-to-severe cases, the therapeutic response is still far from optimal, and treatment changes and optimizations are often required. Thus, researchers in this field are strongly engaged in studies aiming to identify new potential therapeutic targets. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny subcellular bodies with a phospholipid bilayer envelope containing bioactive molecules, which are released from different cells and are involved in intercellular communication. Recent pre-clinical data show their emerging role in the pathogenesis and treatment of IBD. In our review, we summarize current evidence about the function of EVs as active therapeutic agents in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, analyzing the properties of EVs derived from different cellular sources and the mechanisms through which they may improve intestinal inflammation.
Collapse