Blood as a Source of Therapeutic Extracellular Vesicles

EVs are highly heterogeneous and comprise a diverse set of surface protein markers and an array of intra-vesicular cargo, such as miRNA, and play important roles in cell-to-cell communication. Transfused blood products, including platelet products, contain EVs that are capable of interacting with and inducing immune cell activation. Factors such as pre-donation parameters, manufacturing processes, and storage conditions could influence EV release and composition, potentially leading to transfusion-related adverse events. Our studies will yield novel approaches to research in transfusion medicine and make unique contributions to better understanding the role of EVs as mediators of platelet storage-related immune activation and inflammation.