Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2026 Mar 26:S1043-2760(26)00006-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.006. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Obesity and (white) adipose tissue (AT) inflammation are closely linked to endothelial dysfunction (ED) and neurological conditions associated with an impaired blood-brain barrier (BBB). AT-derived extracellular vesicles (AT-EVs), cell-derived particles involved in intercellular and interorgan communication, have emerged as active mediators of this process, yet the underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive. Molecular and functional profiling of AT-EVs' cargo has revealed obesity-related changes in miRNAs, proteins, and lipids that drive ED, primarily by activating proinflammatory signaling in endothelial cells. Importantly, these cargo changes in AT-EVs suggest a broader role, potentially modulating the neurovascular unit, thereby linking AT-EVs to brain pathologies. Collectively, these insights highlight AT-EVs as critical players in obesity-related ED and support their causal role in promoting neurological disease progression.
PMID:41896070 | DOI:10.1016/j.tem.2026.01.006