title: Extracellular vesicles in diagnosis and therapy of kidney diseases.
abstract: Extracellular vesicles (EV) are endogenously produced, membrane-bound vesicles that contain various molecules. Depending on their size and origins, EVs are classified into apoptotic bodies, microvesicles, and exosomes. A fundamental function of EVs is to mediate intercellular communication. In kidneys, recent research has begun to suggest a role of EVs, especially exosomes, in cell-cell communication by transferring proteins, mRNAs, and microRNAs to recipient cells as nanovectors. EVs may mediate the cross talk between various cell types within kidneys for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. They may also mediate the cross talk between kidneys and other organs under physiological and pathological conditions. EVs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of both acute kidney injury and chronic kidney diseases, including renal fibrosis, end-stage renal disease, glomerular diseases, and diabetic nephropathy. The release of EVs with specific molecular contents into urine and plasma may be useful biomarkers for kidney disease. In addition, EVs produced by cultured cells may have therapeutic effects for these diseases. However, the role of EVs in kidney diseases is largely unclear, and the mechanism underlying EV production and secretion remains elusive. In this review, we introduce the basics of EVs and then analyze the present information about the involvement, diagnostic value, and therapeutic potential of EVs in major kidney diseases.
authors: Department of Nephrology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.|Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Urology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.|Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia.
authors: Xiangjun
authors: X
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Nephrology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors: Hao
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Urology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.
authors: Qisheng
authors: Q
authors: Yao
authors: Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia.
authors: Yutao
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia; zdong@Augusta.edu.|Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors: Zheng
authors: Z
authors: Dong
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000378:metabolism; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D000067128:Extracellular Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: acute kidney injury; biomarker; chronic kidney disease; exosome; therapy