Role of extracellular vesicles in the diagnosis and therapy of kidney disease: opportunities and challenges / 中华检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Extracellular vesicles (Evs) are important vectors for cell-cell communication and their potential value in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases has been explored. Recent studies have revealed that changes in the level and characteristics of urinary extracellular vesicles from resident kidney cells are related to severity of various kidney diseases. Yet, circulating extracellular vesicles may also be altered in kidney disease. Circulating EVs and urinary EVs secreted by renal cells have been shown as potential early biomarkers of renal injury. EVs derived from repair cells such as mesenchymal stem cells also represent promising therapeutic agents for treatment of kidney diseases. Furthermore, engineered extracellular vesicles are being developed for specific therapy of certain kidney diseases. In conclusion, EVs may represent promising biomarkers for the detecting and monitoring of renal diseases, which has also the potential to be used as diagnostic and therapeutic tools. This review focuses on the utility of extracellular vesicles as therapeutic and diagnostic tools in kidney diseases and future prospective of EVs research.