Emerging role of extracellular vesicles in kidney diseases

Abstract

Many types of renal disease eventually progress to end-stage renal disease, which can only be maintained by renal replacement therapy. Therefore, kidney diseases now contribute significantly to the health care burden in many countries. Many new advances and strategies have been found in the research involving kidney diseases; however, there is still no efficient treatment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membrane structures, which contains proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. After internalization by downstream cells, these components can still maintain functional activity and regulate the phenotype of downstream cells. EVs drive the information exchange between cells and tissues. Majority of the cells can produce EVs; however, its production, contents, and transportation may be affected by various factors. EVs have been proved to play an important role in the occurrence, development, and treatment of renal diseases. However, the mechanism and potential applications of EVs in kidney diseases remain unclear. This review summarizes the latest research of EVs in renal diseases, and provides new therapeutic targets and strategies for renal diseases.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease; exosomes; extracellular vesicles; kidney diseases; urinary extracellular vesicles.

FIGURE 1

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an important role in different types of kidney diseases.

FIGURE 2

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are divided into three categories based on size and function, which include exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies. Endosomes formed after endocytosis, and then become multivesicular bodies (MVBs) through a series of processes. MVBs are partly transported to lysosomes for degradation and partly fused with the plasma membrane or secreted to the outside of the cell to form exosomes due to its special sorting mechanism. Microvesicles are directly detached from the plasma membrane.