Insight into extracellular vesicles in vascular diseases: intercellular communication role and clinical application potential

BACKGROUND: Cells have been increasingly known to release extracellular vesicles (EVs) to the extracellular environment under physiological and pathological conditions. A plethora of studies have revealed that EVs contain cell-derived biomolecules and are found in circulation, thereby implicating them in molecular trafficking between cells. Furthermore, EVs have an effect on physiological function and disease development and serve as disease biomarkers. MAIN BODY: Given the close association between EV circulation and vascular disease, this review aims to provide a brief introduction to EVs, with a specific focus on the EV cargoes participating in pathological mechanisms, diagnosis, engineering, and clinical potential, to highlight the emerging evidence suggesting promising targets in vascular diseases. Despite the expansion of research in this field, some noticeable limitations remain for clinical translational research. CONCLUSION: This review makes a novel contribution to a summary of recent advances and a perspective on the future of EVs in vascular diseases. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-023-01304-z.