Figure 2.

Mechanisms underlying the involvement of extracellular vesicles in pathologies of cardiometabolic diseases

The potential pathogenic mechanisms of microvesicles underlying coagulation, vascular dysfunction, inflammation, insulin resistance, and cardiomyocyte injury are illustrated. The exposure of EVs to tissue factor and phosphatidylserine could be involved in coagulation cascade and increase the risk of thrombosis in cardiovascular disease and diabetic complications. EVs derived from apoptotic cells have proinflammatory properties by inducing the exposure of adhesion molecules to plasma membrane and secretion of cytokines that are important in atherogenesis and adipose inflammation, thereby contributing to pathogenesis of cardiometabolic diseases. EVs could also directly impair insulin signaling pathways, thus contributing to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. The mechanism of vascular dysfunction induced by EVs could be associated with the decreased production of nitric oxide and prostacyclin in the endothelial cells. In addition, EVs could directly affect cardiomyocytes by inducing apoptosis, therefore maybe involved in cardiomyocyte injury and heart damage. EV, extracellular vesicle.