The Role of Proteomics in Extracellular Vesicles Research in Cardiovascular Disease

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles surrounded by a lipid bilayer and released by different cell types in a controlled manner that can be found in virtually all biological fluids. They range in size from 30 to 5000 nm, including exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies. EVs have been shown to play an important role in cell-to-cell communication, with the ability to modulate cellular functions even far from their origin. In recent years, more and more attention has been given to the study of EVs in both basic and clinical research areas, as EVs seem to play an important role in several diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The protein content of EVs determines their origin and function, and it can also indicate cell dysfunctions or tissue damage. In pathological contexts, EVs exhibit changes in both number and burden. These characteristics make EVs ideal for use as biomarkers, whether at physiological or pathological levels, making them suitable candidates for therapeutic targeting. Given these characteristics, understanding the function of EVs opens up interesting possibilities for diagnosis and treatment. This chapter describes the genesis of EVs, their composition, the most prevalent isolation methodologies, and the utilization of proteomic analysis to determine the prospective diagnostic and therapeutic applications of EVs in cardiovascular diseases.