Basic Pathogenic Mechanisms and Epigenetic Players Promoted by Extracellular Vesicles in Vascular Damage

Both progression from the early pathogenic events to clinically manifest cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer impact the integrity of the vascular system. Pathological vascular modifications are affected by interplay between endothelial cells and their microenvironment. Soluble factors, extracellular matrix molecules and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging determinants of this network that trigger specific signals in target cells. EVs have gained attention as package of molecules with epigenetic reversible activity causing functional vascular changes, but their mechanisms are not well understood. Valuable insights have been provided by recent clinical studies, including the investigation of EVs as potential biomarkers of these diseases. In this paper, we review the role and the mechanism of exosomal epigenetic molecules during the vascular remodeling in coronary heart disease as well as in cancer-associated neoangiogenesis.

Automated summary

Both cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer affect the integrity of the vascular system through pathological vascular modifications mediated by interactions between endothelial cells and their microenvironment. Emerging determinants of these modifications include soluble factors, extracellular matrix molecules, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) which trigger specific signals in target cells. EVs, as packages of molecules with epigenetic reversible activity, have gained attention as potential biomarkers and regulators of functional vascular changes, although their mechanisms are not well understood. In this paper, we review the role and mechanism of exosomal epigenetic molecules in vascular remodeling in coronary heart disease and cancer-associated neoangiogenesis.