Extracellular Vesicles Cargo in Modulating Microglia Functional Responses

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered a new additional mechanism of intercellular communication also in brain cells. Microglia are brain-resident immune cells that provided to immune surveillance and inflammatory responses in the central nervous system. The goal of this research is to investigate how EVs of brain, in particular if EVs isolated from microglia in response to LPS (Lipopolysaccharide) may have the ability to induce an inflammatory state in microglia. This study has showed that EVs with LPS cargo can activate microglia in a manner similar to that of LPS alone and that EVs derived from control cells cannot polarize microglia towards a pro-inflammatory state. The importance of this study is the demonstration that EVs produced in an inflammatory environment can exacerbate the inflammatory message by activating microglia, which may have a negative impact on all brain cells.