Extracellular Vesicles: Independent Metabolic Units in Inflammation and Immunomodulation

Dear Colleagues,

In the last few years, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as potential tools for cell-to-cell communication with potent anti-inflammatory or immunoregulatory activity. EVs are membrane-enclosed spherical particles surrounded by a membrane with an unusual lipid composition. EVs can execute diverse functions in both normal and pathological conditions, including cancer, angiogenesis, cellular differentiation, and inflammation. Thousands of diverse proteins have been identified in EVs secreted by different cell sources. In-depth proteomic and metabolomic analyses have revealed that EVs might act as independent metabolic units that are capable of exerting their functions by means of their metabolites.

This Special Issue entitled “Extracellular Vesicles: Independent Metabolic Units in Inflammation and Immunomodulation” aims to explore cutting-edge research on the role of EV metabolism in the promotion of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. The topics that will be covered include (but are not limited to) studies on the following: (i) metabolites autonomously produced by EVs from different sources; (ii) EV-carried active metabolic pathways; (iii) physiological roles of metabolic pathways/metabolites in the extracellular environment or in the target cell; (iv) molecular mechanisms evoked by EV metabolic pathways/metabolites responsible for anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. The understanding of metabolite profile patterns can provide a signature of the physiological or pathological state under study and deepen our knowledge of specific biochemical processes.

Dr. Rita Romani
Dr. Ilaria Bellezza
Guest Editors

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• extracellular vesicle metabolism
• extracellular vesicle immunomodulatory activity
• extracellular vesicle metabolites
• extracellular metabolic pathways
• extracellular vesicle metabolism immunoregulation