The Double-Edged Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Hallmarks of Aging
Nekane Romero-García,
Javier Huete-Acevedo,
Cristina Mas-Bargues,
Jorge Sanz-Ros,
Mar Dromant,
Consuelo Borrás
Affiliations
Nekane Romero-García
Department of Anesthesiology and Surgical Trauma Intensive Care, Hospital Clinic Universitari Valencia, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Javier Huete-Acevedo
Freshage Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERFES-ISCIII), INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Cristina Mas-Bargues
Freshage Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERFES-ISCIII), INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Jorge Sanz-Ros
Freshage Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERFES-ISCIII), INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Mar Dromant
Freshage Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERFES-ISCIII), INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Consuelo Borrás
Freshage Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERFES-ISCIII), INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain
The exponential growth in the elderly population and their associated socioeconomic burden have recently brought aging research into the spotlight. To integrate current knowledge and guide potential interventions, nine biochemical pathways are summarized under the term hallmarks of aging. These hallmarks are deeply inter-related and act together to drive the aging process. Altered intercellular communication is particularly relevant since it explains how damage at the cellular level translates into age-related loss of function at the organismal level. As the main effectors of intercellular communication, extracellular vesicles (EVs) might play a key role in the aggravation or mitigation of the hallmarks of aging. This review aims to summarize this role and to provide context for the multiple emerging EV-based gerotherapeutic strategies that are currently under study.
