Carotid Plaque-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Mediate Atherosclerosis and Correlate With Plaque Vulnerability

Quick Facts

  • Publication title: Carotid Plaque-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Mediate Atherosclerosis and Correlate With Plaque Vulnerability
  • Journal: MedComm
  • Year: 2025
  • DOI: 10.1002/mco2.70220
  • PMID/PMCID: 40391195; PMC12086378

Research overview

Carotid plaque-derived small extracellular vesicles (psEVs) offer insights into tissue- and disease-specific pathobiology, but their roles in plaque vulnerability and their diagnostic potential remain unclear. These findings highlight the roles of psEVs in atherogenesis and plaque vulnerability, providing valuable insights for risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making in aCAS patients.

Key findings

Carotid plaque-derived small extracellular vesicles (psEVs) offer insights into tissue- and disease-specific pathobiology, but their roles in plaque vulnerability and their diagnostic potential remain unclear.

Herein, we isolated psEVs from stable and vulnerable (intraplaque hemorrhage [IPH] or fibrous cap rupture [FCR]) plaques in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (aCAS).

Our findings demonstrated that psEVs alone were sufficient to induce inflammatory endothelial dysfunction in vitro and exacerbate atherogenesis in ApoE-deficient mice.

MicroRNA sequencing of psEVs (sequencing cohort, n = 18) identified 21 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) distinguishing stable and vulnerable plaques, and 41 DEmiRNAs differentiating IPH from FCR subtypes.

Echo Biotech Role

Echo Biotech contributed EV isolation and purification, EV characterization, miRNA profiling/sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, qPCR validation; the study also used or cited Exosupur®.

Related platforms: Exoomics®, Research Reagents & Tools

Related services and capabilities: Biofluid EV Isolation & Purification, Tissue EV Isolation & Purification, EV Basic Characterization (TEM/NTA/WB), EV miRNA Profiling / Sequencing, qPCR Validation, Research Reagent / Product Supply

Related products or reagents: Exosupur® EV Isolation/Purification Kit

References

Original publication: Carotid Plaque-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Mediate Atherosclerosis and Correlate With Plaque Vulnerability MedComm (2020). 2025. DOI: 10.1002/mco2.70220. PMID/PMCID: 40391195; PMC12086378.