Extracellular vesicles in health and disease

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is associated with classical and emerging risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), correlates with disease progression and is an independent predictor of the risk of future cardiovascular events. Assessment of ED, either functionally by endothelium-dependent vasodilation, or by circulating endothelial biomarkers, is therefore of potential clinical value. Extracellular vesicles (ECVs) are small vesicles (0.1 – 1 μm) released from activated, damaged or apoptotic cells and platelets. They circulate in the bloodstream and are directly indicative of endothelial stress/damage. Addition of ECV numbers to the Framingham risk score model improves the prediction power of future cardiovascular events and ECVs are elevated in individuals with metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and obesity. Pharmacological and lifestyle interventions, including diet, have the potential to modify vascular and endothelial function, providing a basis for primary prevention, but the evidence in this area is only just emerging. This project investigates the roles of ECVs in health and disease and the effects of dietary components on production and behaviour of ECVs using human intervention studies and a variety of cutting-edge techniques. Informal enquiries to Professor Parveen Yaqoo ( p.yaqoob@reading.ac.uk).