Neurodegenerative diseases are usually age-related and associated with one or more misfolded and aggregated proteins. Although amyloid and tau protein can be measured with PET imaging or in cerebrospinal fluid, most neurodegenerative proteinopathies cannot be detected in vivo. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized particles that arise from a wide range of cells and contain molecular cargo, including a variety of proteins, messenger RNAs, and microRNAs. Recently, the identification of protein and genetic biomarkers contained in EVs, in particular neuronal- or glial-derived EVs, has elucidated biological mechanisms and facilitated diagnosis in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Furthermore, EVs have also been investigated as potential therapeutic agents or targets for neurodegenerative diseases, either using EVs loaded with a therapeutic cargo, or pharmacological modification of the release of EVs containing associated pathological proteins.
Since EVs hold great promise for novel diagnostic and therapeutic discoveries, the interest in EVs is growing exponentially. Standardization of methodologies and testing across different cohorts, including isolation, detection and characterization of EVs, remain key challenges in realizing their potential. Understanding the biological processes involved in packaging proteins and RNAs into neuronal or glial EVs in both normal aging and neurologic disorders will contribute to determining the physical and pathological roles of EVs in intercellular communication and signaling, and developing therapeutic approaches in the future. The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together, in one volume, research about the impact of EVs on biological mechanisms, as well as the potential diagnostic and therapeutic utility of EVs, in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. We hope to identify new challenges for future investigation.
In this Research Topic, we welcome submissions of original research papers that will discuss, but be not restricted to the following topics:
1. Roles of EVs in intercellular communication and signaling in the central nervous system
2. Isolation and identification of EVs, especially neuronal- or glial-derived
3. EVs as sources of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases
4. Proteome and genome of neuronal-derived EVs
5. Therapeutic approaches involving EVs in neurodegenerative diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases are usually age-related and associated with one or more misfolded and aggregated proteins. Although amyloid and tau protein can be measured with PET imaging or in cerebrospinal fluid, most neurodegenerative proteinopathies cannot be detected in vivo. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized particles that arise from a wide range of cells and contain molecular cargo, including a variety of proteins, messenger RNAs, and microRNAs. Recently, the identification of protein and genetic biomarkers contained in EVs, in particular neuronal- or glial-derived EVs, has elucidated biological mechanisms and facilitated diagnosis in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Furthermore, EVs have also been investigated as potential therapeutic agents or targets for neurodegenerative diseases, either using EVs loaded with a therapeutic cargo, or pharmacological modification of the release of EVs containing associated pathological proteins.
Since EVs hold great promise for novel diagnostic and therapeutic discoveries, the interest in EVs is growing exponentially. Standardization of methodologies and testing across different cohorts, including isolation, detection and characterization of EVs, remain key challenges in realizing their potential. Understanding the biological processes involved in packaging proteins and RNAs into neuronal or glial EVs in both normal aging and neurologic disorders will contribute to determining the physical and pathological roles of EVs in intercellular communication and signaling, and developing therapeutic approaches in the future. The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together, in one volume, research about the impact of EVs on biological mechanisms, as well as the potential diagnostic and therapeutic utility of EVs, in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. We hope to identify new challenges for future investigation.
In this Research Topic, we welcome submissions of original research papers that will discuss, but be not restricted to the following topics:
1. Roles of EVs in intercellular communication and signaling in the central nervous system
2. Isolation and identification of EVs, especially neuronal- or glial-derived
3. EVs as sources of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases
4. Proteome and genome of neuronal-derived EVs
5. Therapeutic approaches involving EVs in neurodegenerative diseases
