Extracellular Vesicles and Cardiovascular Disease: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Perspective

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are becoming the target in the management of various diseases. They play a crucial role in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). EV encloses various biomolecules and plays a pivotal role in intracellular communication. EVs containing micro-ribonucleic acid (miRs) and proteins help to maintain normal cardiac health. On the contrary, the change in composition inside EVs under pathological conditions can lead to the initiation of CVDs as well. EVs are also accumulated in atherosclerotic plaques, which further leads to inflammation, thrombosis, calcification, and proliferation. Therefore, it could be easily targeted to maintain the overall homeostasis in different CVDs. This chapter emphasises on the role of EVs in various CVDs and its potential as biomarkers and therapeutic agents.