Age- and sex-related variations in extracellular vesicle profiling for the assessment of cardiovascular risk: the EVaging index.

Jacopo Burrello, Jessica Goi, Alessio Burrello, Elena Vacchi, Azucena Rendon-Angel, Edoardo Lazzarini, Giovanni Bianco, Vittorio Limongelli, Giuseppe Vassalli, Carlo W Cereda, Silvia Monticone, Paolo Mulatero, Benedetta Bussolati, Andrea Alimonti, Giovanni G Camici, Giorgia Melli, Elena Osto, Giovanni Pedrazzini, Barile Lucio

Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer valuable diagnostic and prognostic insights for cardiovascular (CV) diseases, but the influence of age-related chronic inflammation ("inflammaging") and sex differences on EV profiles linked to CV risk remains unclear. This study aimed to use EV profiling to predict age and stratify patients by CV risk. We developed an EVaging index by analyzing surface antigen profiles of serum EVs from 625 participants, aged 20 to 94 years, across varying CV risk groups. The EVaging index was associated with age in healthy individuals and distinguished CV risk profiles in patients, correlating with CV outcomes and likelihood of fatal CV events according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) SCORE, and reflecting age-associated comorbidities. While changes in disease-related EV fingerprint adds complexity in CV patients, EV profiling may help assess biological aging and CV risk, emphasizing EVs' roles in inflammaging.

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Research summary

The paper investigates the role of extracellular vesicles in assessing cardiovascular risk, particularly in the context of age-related chronic inflammation and sex differences. While it touches on aspects of biological aging and the potential for EV profiling to reflect age-associated comorbidities, it primarily focuses on cardiovascular disease risk assessment rather than addressing the root causes of aging or lifespan extension. The findings contribute solid research to the field of cardiovascular health but do not significantly advance the understanding of aging mechanisms or interventions aimed at extending lifespan.

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