2024 年 59 巻 1 号 p. 43-50
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as a new field of interest in the study of liver diseases. EVs are involved in intercellular communication and contain various bioactive molecules. In liver transplantation (LT), EVs are attractive materials because they could be involved in many physiological and pathological processes, such as immunomodulation and tissue repair. They could play a multifaceted role in organ rejection and immune modulation, with further research possibly paving the way for advancements in diagnosis and treatment. EVs hold great promise for mitigating ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), potentially addressing organ shortage by enabling the regeneration of currently discarded organs. However, standardization of EV isolation and purification techniques, establishment of quantitative criteria, enhancement of EV yield while maintaining homogeneity, ensuring proper storage, and rigorous assessment of safety are all critical steps before clinical application of EV-based therapies in LT. Despite their costly nature in an already expensive procedure, future research efforts have the potential to maximize the potential of EVs in LT, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and shaping the future of personalized medicine. This review highlights the role of EVs in LT, particularly their potential roles as biomarkers and therapeutic agents, as well as current insights into immunological response.
