Microvesicles and ectosomes in angiogenesis and diabetes - message in a bottle in the vascular ocean

The pathogenesis of diabetes involves dysregulated gene expression on a pre- and posttranscriptional level. One key mechanism in the development and progression of diabetes is thought being a dysregulation of signalling mediators such as microRNAs. These microRNAs interfere with pathophysiological reactions in diabetes by affecting gene transcription, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. Here, in this current issue, Stępień et al. analysed ectosomal miRNA patterns in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using different analytical techniques. The focus of the current analysis was to characterize pro- and anti-angiogenic signalling effects of ectosomal miRNAs revealing important pathophysiologic mechanisms and signalling in T2DM.