Role of extracellular vesicles in liver diseases and their therapeutic potential

Enis Kostallari, Shantha Valainathan, Louise Biquard, Vijay H. Shah, Pierre Emmanuel Rautou

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

More than eight hundred million people worldwide have chronic liver disease, with two million deaths per year. Recurring liver injury results in fibrogenesis, progressing towards cirrhosis, for which there doesn't exists any cure except liver transplantation. Better understanding of the mechanisms leading to cirrhosis and its complications is needed to develop effective therapies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released by cells and are important for cell-to-cell communication. EVs have been reported to be involved in homeostasis maintenance, as well as in liver diseases. In this review, we present current knowledge on the role of EVs in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, alcohol-associated liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, primary liver cancers, acute liver injury and liver regeneration. Moreover, therapeutic strategies involving EVs as targets or as tools to treat liver diseases are summarized.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number113816
JournalAdvanced Drug Delivery Reviews
Volume175
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2021

Keywords

  • Cirrhosis
  • Exosomes
  • Fibrosis
  • Microvesicles
  • Portal hypertension
  • Steatosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmaceutical Science

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