Extracellular Vesicles as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

EVs play a significant role in regulating pathophysiologic pathways like inflammation, and angiogenesis, and are therefore implicated in key aspects of multiple conditions including heart disease. It is known that cell-to-cell communication by EVs has the potential to affect target cells in a “two-way” or “multi-way” fashion. However, investigating this secreted EV-mediated shift of cell communication from a “landline” to “cell phone” fashion would help us understand the drivers of CVD risk. We aim to create a new paradigm for discovering novel biomarkers and EV-based interactions that can be targeted to prevent immune activation, inflammation, and coagulopathy, which are important not just for HIV but for inflammatory heart disease in the general population.