Brain-derived extracellular vesicles: A promising avenue for Parkinson's disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

The misfolding, aggregation, and deposition of alpha-synuclein into Lewy bodies are pivotal events that trigger pathological changes in Parkinson's disease. Extracellular vesicles are nanosized lipid-bilayer vesicles secreted by cells that play a crucial role in intercellular communication due to their diverse cargo. Among these, brain-derived extracellular vesicles, which are secreted by various brain cells such as neurons, glial cells, and Schwann cells, have garnered increasing attention. They serve as a promising tool for elucidating Parkinson's disease pathogenesis and for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This review highlights the recent advancements in our understanding of brain-derived extracellular vesicles released into the blood and their role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, with specific emphasis on their involvement in the aggregation and spread of alpha-synuclein. Brain-derived extracellular vesicles contribute to disease progression through multiple mechanisms, including autophagy-lysosome dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress, collectively driving neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Their application in Parkinson's disease diagnosis is a primary focus of this review. Recent studies have demonstrated that brain-derived extracellular vesicles can be isolated from peripheral blood samples, as they carry α-synuclein a

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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