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World J Hepatol. Sep 27, 2024; 16(9): 1211-1228
Published online Sep 27, 2024. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i9.1211
Contribution of extracellular vesicles to steatosis-related liver disease and their therapeutic potential
Margarita Montoya-Buelna, Inocencia G Ramirez-Lopez, Cesar A San Juan-Garcia, Jose J Garcia-Regalado, Mariana S Millan-Sanchez, Ulises de la Cruz-Mosso, Jesse Haramati, Ana L Pereira-Suarez, Jose Macias-Barragan
Margarita Montoya-Buelna, Laboratorio de Inmunología, Departamento de Fisiología, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
Inocencia G Ramirez-Lopez, Jose Macias-Barragan, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Centro Universitario de los Valles, Universidad de Guadalajara, Ameca 46600, Jalisco, Mexico
Cesar A San Juan-Garcia, Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
Jose J Garcia-Regalado, Mariana S Millan-Sanchez, Laboratorio de Inmunología, Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
Ulises de la Cruz-Mosso, Red de Inmunonutrición y Genómica Nutricional en las Enfermedades Autoinmunes, Departamento de Neurociencias, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
Jesse Haramati, Laboratorio de Inmunobiología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45200, Jalisco, Mexico
Ana L Pereira-Suarez, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
Co-first authors: Margarita Montoya-Buelna and Inocencia G Ramirez-Lopez.
Author contributions: Montoya-Buelna M and Ramirez-Lopez IG contributed equally to this work; Macias-Barragan J, Pereira-Suarez AL, and de la Cruz-Mosso U contributed to the design of the study, supervised, and made critical revisions; Montoya-Buelna M, Ramirez-Lopez IG, San Juan-Garcia CA, Garcia-Regalado JJ, and Millan-Sanchez MS conducted the literature review, created tables, and designed figures; Macias-Barragan J and Haramati J contributed to critical English review and drafted the manuscript; All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by Universidad de Guadalajara, Programa de Impulso a la Investigación, No. PIN 2020; Universidad de Guadalajara, Programa de Apoyo a la Mejora en las Condiciones de Producción de los Miembros del SNI y SNCA, No. PROSNI 2024 (to Montoya-Buelna M); and Secretaría de Salud de México, Dirección General de Calidad y Educación en Salud, No. Fellowship 2022-2023 (to Millan-Sanchez MS).
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Jose Macias-Barragan, PhD, Researcher, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Centro Universitario de los Valles, Universidad de Guadalajara, Carretera Guadalajara-Ameca Km 45.5, Ameca 46600, Jalisco, Mexico. josemacias@valles.udg.mx
Received: June 5, 2024
Revised: July 31, 2024
Accepted: August 13, 2024
Published online: September 27, 2024
Processing time: 109 Days and 15.8 Hours
Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small particles released by many cell types in different tissues, including the liver, and transfer specific cargo molecules from originating cells to receptor cells. This process generally culminates in activation of distant cells and inflammation and progression of certain diseases. The global chronic liver disease (CLD) epidemic is estimated at 1.5 billion patients worldwide. Cirrhosis and liver cancer are the most common risk factors for CLD. However, hepatitis C and B virus infection and obesity are also highly associated with CLD. Nonetheless, the etiology of many CLD pathophysiological, cellular, and molecular events are unclear. Changes in hepatic lipid metabolism can lead to lipotoxicity events that induce EV release. Here, we aimed to present an overview of EV features, from definition to types and biogenesis, with particular focus on the molecules related to steatosis-related liver disease, diagnosis, and therapy.

Keywords: Extracellular vesicles; Exosomes; Chronic liver disease; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Core Tip: Extracellular vesicles are tiny particles released by cells and transport specific molecules from one cell to another, resulting in the sending of a message. Chronic liver diseases are mainly induced by cirrhosis, liver cancer, viral hepatitis, and obesity. Alterations in hepatic lipid metabolism, as fat accumulation in liver cells, can trigger lipotoxicity events that prompt extracellular vesicle release leading to inflammation. In this context, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of extracellular vesicles, covering their definition, types, and biogenesis, with emphasis on extracellular vesicles associated with steatosis-related liver disease, diagnosis, treatment, and its possible therapeutic applications.