Extracellular Vesicles: A New Frontier for Research in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

• Published in: American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 15 - 24
• Main Authors: Mahida, Rahul Y, Matsumoto, Shotaro, Matthay, Michael A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Thoracic Society 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Cell Communication - physiology; Cell signaling; Extracellular vesicles; Extracellular Vesicles - metabolism; Humans; Inflammation; Lung diseases; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - metabolism; miRNA; mRNA; Proteins; Respiratory distress syndrome; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sepsis; Translational Review; acute respiratory distress syndrome; extracellular vesicles; acute lung injury; sepsis
• ISSN: 1044-1549; 1535-4989
• DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2019-0447TR

Recent research on extracellular vesicles (EVs) has provided new insights into pathogenesis and potential therapeutic options for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). EVs are membrane-bound anuclear structures that carry important intercellular communication mechanisms, allowing targeted transfer of diverse biologic cargo, including protein, mRNA, and microRNA, among several different cell types. In this review, we discuss the important role EVs play in both inducing and attenuating inflammatory lung injury in ARDS as well as in sepsis, the most important clinical cause of ARDS. We discuss the translational challenges that need to be overcome before EVs can also be used as prognostic biomarkers in patients with ARDS and sepsis. We also consider how EVs may provide a platform for novel therapeutics in ARDS.