title: Extracellular Vesicles in Multiple Sclerosis as Possible Biomarkers: Dream or Reality?
abstract: Extracellular vesicles are recently described as specialized structures for intercellular communication. Their role in the central nervous system was diffusely studied in both physiological and pathological condition. In particular, an increased extracellular vesicle number was detected in several autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune, inflammatory, demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease. This chapter summarizes the available information on the involvement of the extracellular vesicles in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis and their possible use as biomarker of therapy efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF) Sez Biologia Cellulare ed.16, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Palermo, 90128, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Magdalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF) Sez Biologia Cellulare ed.16, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Palermo, 90128, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aliotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. fabiana.geraci@unipa.it.|Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy. fabiana.geraci@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Geraci
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D000067128:Extracellular Vesicles / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Biomarkers; Extracellular vesicles; Multiple sclerosis; Therapy efficacy