Introduction

During the last two decades, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have become a subject of scrutiny in various diseases 1, 2, 3. EVs are defined as heterogeneous groups of membrane-enclosed spherical structures with variable sizes and compositions, including microvesicles, exosomes and apoptotic bodies 4. They are secreted by a wide array of cells, including cardiac myocytes, mature and progenitor endothelial cells, mesenchymal stem cells, immune cells like antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and malignant cells5, 6. Being involved in the transfer of cellular content (. regulatory proteins, hormones, lipids, growth factors, chromatin materials, and microRNAs), EVs play a multifaceted role in cell-to-cell communication, regulation of immune response, tissue reparation, angiogenesis, inflammation and malignancy, via acting as signal transductors which mediate information by internalization of their contents through fusion with the plasma membrane of target cells or through endocytosis7, 8, 9, 10.

Atherosclerosis is defined as a chronic progressive disease of the arterial wall having a long asymptomatic phase. The development of the disease is associated with microvascular inflammation and altered immune reaction due to strong infiltration of intima and sub-intima by oxidized lipids, oxidative stress, proliferative responses from cellular components of intima and media, accumulation of extracellular components with the shaping of atherosclerotic plaques, impaired vasomotion ability, endothelial dysfunction, and thrombosis, ultimately resulting in vascular remodeling and artery obstruction11, 12. Finally, there is a close relationship between a risk of all-cause mortality and incident of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular (CV) events in the general population and subclinical atherosclerosis13.

Numerous animal studies as well as observational and clinical trials have shown that atherosclerosis arises from immune activation, with several cell-type specific pathways involved. These include macrophage and smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic switching and various inflammatory signaling, such as IL-33/suppression of tumorigenesis 2 (ST2), Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathways, and JAK-STAT signaling pathways14, 15, 16, 17. Besides, some chronic infections induced by pathogens such as and herpes zoster can increase the risk of atherosclerosis, mediating the presence of HSP60-specific T lymphocytes in peripheral blood18, 19. However, the innate molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of stable artery lesions to the formation of vulnerable plaques still remain uncertain 20. There is a wide range of evidence regarding the fact that pro-atherogenic factors (. hypoxia, oxidative stress, oxidized lipids, and inflammation) and aggravating factors (. blood flow turbulence, endothelial dysfunction, and vasoconstriction) influence the production of EVs from various cells and promote atherosclerosis21, 22. It has been defined that EVs derived from APCs regulating key steps of disease pathogenesis, such as microvascular inflammation, immunity, cell survival, apoptosis, angiogenesis, thrombosis and autophagy, exert a role in the development of atherosclerotic lesions21, 23. The review is to update the current evidence of the role of EVs derived from immune cells and APCs in the development of atherosclerotic plaque and modulation of their instability.

Definition and nomenclature of extracellular vesicles

The recently updated guideline of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) on minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV) has defined EVs as "particles naturally released from the cell that is delimited by a lipid bilayer and cannot replicate"24. The nomenclature, main characteristics, and biological function of several subpopulations of EVs are reported in Table 1. Exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies are validated to describe several types of particles. Although different subpopulations of EVs have a particular and unique morphological structure, which is a result of their origin, EVs can be substantially distinguished from each other in terms of their components, such as cell organelles (endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, mitochondrial and nuclear components), cytosolic and cytoskeleton proteins (heat shock proteins, tubulins, moesin, cofilins, actin, myosin, protocadherin, apolipoproteins), lipids (cholesterol, sphingomyelin, ceramide, phosphatidylcholine, ethanolamine, and inositol), eicosanoids, enzymes (phospholipases, matrix metalloproteinases), adhesion molecules (CD44, EPCAM, ICAMs, integrins), genetic materials (chromatin debris, DNA, non-coding and coding RNAs), and growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], epidermal growth factor [EGF], fibroblast growth factor [FGF] and their receptors [EGF and FGF receptors], interleukins, and other biomolecules)25, 26. Some components (cytosolic and cytoskeleton proteins, growth factors and their receptors, MHC molecules, and adhesive molecules) are constitutively present in various subtypes of EVs. Other components, such as prions and β-amyloid peptides, occur in pathological condition. Moreover, there is no strong correlation between the components, the size, and the number of these particles in circulation27. Despite protein/lipid profiles, as well as nucleic acid species, which could serve as markers for quantitative and compositional characterizations of several subtypes of EVs, there is a need to use other criteria including size, immune phenotype, bilayer morphology, labeling with fluorescent lipids, proteins, or antibodies- to discriminate EVs from each other.

EVs derived from immune and antigen-presenting cells: Biological role and function

EVs are produced by immune cells and APCs (macrophages, B cells, dendritic cells) facilitate cell-to-cell communication processes, such as forming immune synapses between APCs and T cells, promoting the delivery of peptide complexes of class II major histocompatibility complex (pMHC-II) molecules, and assisting in the differentiation of T cells into CD4 or CD8 T cells. Besides, they can act as antigen-presenting EVs, thereby mediating the initiation, expansion, maintenance, or silencing of adaptive immune responses, while also promoting differentiation of regulatory T lymphocytes, inflammation, and apoptosis 27, 28. Therefore, EVs- especially exosomes, which are secreted by naïve human monocytes/macrophages are involved in regulating the phagocytic activity of activated macrophages as a result of the transfer of interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. It has been found that numerous microRNAs (-27a, -29b, -125a, -146a, -155, and -222), which are transmitted from naïve human monocytes to macrophages, were powerful triggers for the polarization of macrophages into M2 phenotype 29, 30, 31. Nevertheless, proliferation and differentiation of progenitor endothelial precursors, which are crucial for angiogenesis and neovascularization, are under regulation by APC-derived EVs32. Well-known inductors of cell differentiation, such as circulating oxidase low-density protein and cell-free microRNAs cannot strongly support epigenetic-related regulation of proliferative activity of resident cells in the vasculature. Several microRNAs (such as microRNA-128, microRNA-128-1, microRNA-148a, microRNA-130b and microRNA-301b) are cargoes for EVs and act as specifically-designed core post-transcriptional regulators of target genes involved in cellular lipid homeostasis, microvascular inflammation, and energy metabolism. These target genes include LDL receptor, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, sirtuin 1, and insulin receptor substrate 133, 34, 35. Thus, specific proteomic, transcriptomic, and lipidomic profiles of EVs secreted by immune cells and APCs are engaged in control of migration, proliferation and differentiation of recipient cells.

Immune and APC-derived EVs in atherosclerosis

Previous preclinical and clinical studies have revealed that EVs are associated with the presence, progressiveness, and severity of atherosclerosis36, 37, 38. Indeed, circulating levels of EVs have been found to be increased in atherosclerosis, and EVs were EVs involved in key stages of atherosclerosis progression, such as accumulation of lipid, thickness of intima, proliferative response from SMCs, promotion of vascular media and calcification, plaque shaping and progression, and thrombus formation after plaque rupture36. The proliferation and migration of macrophages, epithelial cells and vascular SMCs, as well as the transformation of macrophages into foam cells, are all essential elements for the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and acceleration of atherosclerosis37. Activated macrophages can interact with vascular SMCs through exosomes and stimulate them to migrate and adhere to the intima. EVs derived from foam cells have been demonstrated to stimulate vascular SMC migration and activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways, enabling the progression of aggravated lesions38. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins, from internalization into EVs, can be transferred from foam cells to vascular SMCs and endothelial cells. The resident precursors act as destructive stimuli, inducing oxidative stress and disintegration of the endothelial barrier. It has been established that several transcriptional factors, such as Krüppel-like factor-5 (KLF5), JunD (a member of the activated protein-1 family of transcription factors), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), were found to be incorporated into EVs derived from macrophages. Consequently, EVs mediating the proliferation and migration of vascular SMCs via supply of transcription factors- play a pivotal role in adverse vascular remodeling and atherosclerotic plaque shaping while suppressing oxidative homeostasis in target cells of the vasculature; however, they can attenuate angiopoietin capacity38, 39.

There is convincing evidence that a large number of non-coding RNAs, including microRNA-146a, microRNA-128, microRNA-185, microRNA-199a-5p, microRNA-365 and microRNA-503, are transmitted between immune cells and target somatic cells (such as epithelial cells, progenitor endothelial cells and SMCs), promoting specific signals for suppression of aerobic glycolysis, promoting macrophage polarization, and decreasing cell migration39, 40. Interestingly, delivery of microRNA-146a from macrophage-released EVs repressed the expression of target genes of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) and human antigen R or ELAV-like RNA-binding protein 1 (HuR) in naïve macrophages40. These genes activate downstream cascades, including that of NLRP3 inflammasome, and support Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and endoplasmic reticulum stress responses, thereby hampering recruitment of circulating monocytes and macrophages into the vascular intima41. Nonetheless, microRNA-223 contained in macrophage-released EVs was found to be a powerful trigger for macrophage turn-over into foam cells in atherosclerotic plaques 41. Moreover, microRNA-199a-5p can exert its effect by targeting Klotho, which induces polarization of M2 macrophages through the TLR-4 pathway42.

There is a large body of evidence that shows macrophages can secrete so-called atherogenic exosomes containing microRNAs (-21-3p, -133a, -141-3p) to mediate cell-to-cell crosstalk and encourage pro-atherogenic phenotypes of vascular SMCs43, 44, 45. Indeed, EVs enriched by microRNA-21-3p and derived from plaque-resident macrophages increase vascular SMC migration and proliferation via their phosphatase and tension homology43. The package of microRNA-133a in macrophage secretome is associated with a negative regulation of cell proliferation, inflammatory factor secretion, and apoptosis in vascular wall and plaque by modulating FGF-144. Animal studies have revealed that microRNA-141-3p deletion reverses the positive effects on vascular SMCs via long non-coding RNA-taurine-upregulated gene 145. Thus, macrophages modulate pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic phenotypes in recipient cells via the secretion of EVs containing microRNAs.

Additionally, EVs are a powerful messenger for signals from infected cells to naïve cells. EVs released from virus-infected cells deliver viral RNA to dendritic cells and macrophages, thereby activating pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on recipient cells, resulting in the expression of type I interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines46, 47. On the other hand, exosome-mediated secretion of a multitude of immunoregulatory proteins from APCs has been demonstrated; moreover, EVs can promote inflammasome creation and release as an alternative to caspase-148, 49. Consequently, EVs can indirectly modulate the non-canonical secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 as a package of the inflammasome. Moreover, TLR-9 activated macrophages can secrete EVs that ensure transport of various nucleic acids and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides to naïve macrophages and induce them to release chemokines and TNF-α50, 51. Besides, one of the largest stress-induced proteins and molecular chaperones- glucose-regulated protein 170 (Grp170)- is highly responsible for the internalization of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide package and facilitates synergistic activation through GTP-binding protein Ras and MyD88-dependent signaling (MyD88/IRAK/TRAF6 kinases cascade, ERK/JNK/NF-kappaB), which ensures a subsequent enhancement in production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide 52, 53, 54. These molecules were previously defined as triggers for proliferative responses from vascular SMCs, epithelial and endothelial cells, and resident macrophages55.

Apoptotic APC-derived EVs have been found to be core players in contributing to macrophage-mediated production of TGF-beta and 56. In extracellular immune surveillance, APC-derived EVs also interacted with secreted phospholipases to generate eicosanoids, regulating the transfer of cargo into a cellular recipient57. Eicosanoids are involved in various biological functions, including modulation or modification of phenotype of the recipient cells, such as SMCs, macrophages, and endothelial progenitor cells; distal immune responses and proliferative responses from SMCs can also be modulated 58, 59.

Since EVs contain a wide spectrum of lipids, the final metabolic effect on target cells depends on lipids that enrich EVs and the immune phenotype of EVs. For instance, di-saturated phospholipids that are embarked by exosomes enhance their membrane rigidity and facilitate binding with circulating IgM-type immunoglobulins60. There are additional specific eliminating proteins that may favor the clearance of circulating immune complexes, IgM antibodies, and apoptotic cells by exosomes. Indeed, the phospholipase iPLA2, which is specifically associated with the endosomal and exosomal membranes, can be activated by reactive oxygen species and mediates lysophosphatidylcholine synthesis. It is recognized by IgM antibodies on the surface of EVs and specifically binds with apoptotic cells, leading to their removal from circulation 61, 62. Because apoptotic cells derived from macrophages and other APCs can suppress pro-inflammatory and pro-immunogenic reactions through their cargo contents, altered elimination of these EVs from peripheral blood with exosomes is considered as an impaired endogenous tissue-protective mechanism63, 64. In fact, apoptotic cells can induce 15-lipoxygenase and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid production, which potentiate the anti-inflammatory pathway through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and lipoxin A4 production, leading to maintenance of vascular integrity and prevention against atherosclerosis65.

Another pathophysiological mechanism by which exosomes released from oxidized low-density lipoprotein-stimulated macrophages influence atherosclerosis development and progression is via induction of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)66. Overall, NETosis is a unique cell death mechanism that is a crucial component of the adaptive immune response, linking microvascular inflammation with atherosclerosis67, 68. Exosomal microRNA-146a secreted by activated macrophages promote the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and NET release via targeting superoxide dismutase 2 66. Therefore, activation of endothelial cells with APC-derived EVs can promote them to secrete exosomes embarked with microRNA-505, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1). Furthermore, MALAT1 and microRNA-505 containing various endothelial cell-derived EVs (mainly exosomes) are able to initiate the formation of NETs and plaque resident dendritic cell maturation, which in turn deteriorate atherosclerosis68, 69, 70. Indeed, transcripts of long non-coding RNAs found in EVs related to atherosclerosis have included many molecules, such as ANRIL, SENCR, CoroMarker, LIPCAR, HIF1α-AS1, LncRNA H19, APPAT, KCNQ1OT1, LncPPARδ, LincRNA-p21, MALAT1, MIAT, and UCA171. Some of them, such as CoroMarker, have predictive value for coronary artery disease72, 73. On the other hand, animal studies have revealed that exosomal MALAT1 enhances autophagy and survival in oxidized low-density lipoprotein-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells through suppression of microRNA-216a-5p, and that regulation of Beclin-1 expression can lead to vascular protection74. Consequently, the secretome of APC-derived EVs can play a dual role in atherosclerosis development and progression, depending on the compounds incorporated in the EVs75.

Future investigations

Since circulating EVs are enriched with various subtypes of biologically active molecules and can be derived from individual APCs, single EV analysis might have practical utility to identify patients at high-risk for atherosclerosis by evaluating EV numbers and the cargo composition. Perhaps, extensive clinical studies are required to evaluate whether EVs derived from cells, including APCs, could serve as potential biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis. Finally, an exosome-based therapeutic strategy can also be used to attenuate atherosclerotic heart disease and promote cardiovascular regeneration.

Conclusion

EVs derived from APCs play a central role in accelerating atherosclerosis through their participation in microvascular inflammation, angiogenesis, coagulation, and NETosis. While limited, there is strong evidence in the literature for APC-derived EVs as potential diagnostic and predictive markers but this requires further investigations. Large clinical trials can help deepen our understanding of APC-derived EVs as potential surrogate biomarkers of atherosclerosis-associated diseases.

Abbreviations

Apo: apo-lipoproteins

CD: cluster of differentiation

CV: cardiovascular

CVD: cardiovascular disease

EGF: Epidermal Growth Factor

ESCRT: endosomal sorting complex required for transport

FGF: fibroblast growth factor

HSP: heat shock proteins

INF: interferon

MAPk: mitogen-activated protein kinase

MFGE8: milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 protein

NF-κB: nuclear factor-κB

PDCD6IP: programmed cell death 6 interacting protein

PDGF: platelet-derived growth factor

SNARE: soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive attachment protein receptor

TNF: tumor necrosis factor

TSG101: tumor susceptibility gene 101 protein

VEGF-A: vascular endothelial growth factor-A

Acknowledgments

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Author’s contributions

Berezin AE and Berezin AA have equal responsible for the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

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Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.