Hidden Messengers in the Blood

Every second, countless small packages circulate through the bloodstream, transporting crucial data between the body’s cells. Now, researchers at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute have, for the first time, accessed this cellular communication, uncovering its composition with remarkable clarity.

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A study published in Nature Cell Biology details how Professor David W. Greening and Dr Alin Rai have delineated the comprehensive molecular architecture of extracellular vesicles (EVs), microscopic entities within the blood that function as the body’s covert communicators.

For many years, investigators have been aware that EVs exist, transporting proteins, lipids, and genetic components that reflect the physiological state of their parent cells. However, because the circulatory fluid presents an intricate blend, filled with cholesterol, immune proteins, and countless other elements, extracting EVs has consistently posed a significant hurdle for scientific inquiry.

These vesicles are like tiny envelopes sent between cells, delivering molecular updates about what’s happening inside the body. Until now, we just couldn’t open them properly to read the messages inside.

Dr. Alin Rai, Postdoctoral Fellow, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

Employing highly refined isolation methodologies and advanced multi-omics analysis, the team pinpointed 182 proteins and 52 lipids that form the fundamental framework of human plasma EVs. Furthermore, they identified a distinct collection of molecules that differentiate EVs from other circulating elements, thereby helping to explain the body’s molecular signaling network.

For broad accessibility of this finding, the team created EVMap, a complementary, interactive online resource that enables global scientific users to investigate the molecular composition of circulating EVs.

By decoding this molecular language, we can begin to read the body’s own health reports. We’ve already identified EV signatures linked to early heart disease, which could pave the way for simple blood tests that predict risk long before symptoms appear.

David W. Greening, Professor, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

Dr Rai added, “This is a major step forward in understanding how our cells talk – and how listening to those messages could transform disease diagnosis and treatment.”