Role of extracellular vesicles in mitochondrial eye diseases

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small packages that are released by almost all types of cells. While the role of EVs in pathogenesis of certain diseases such as cancer is well established, EVs role in ocular health and disease is still at early stages of investigation. Given the significant role of EVs in pathological development and progression of diseases such as cancer, EVs present a similar opportunity for investigation in ocular pathophysiology. Studies have shown the presence of EVs in fluids from the ocular environment have close links with ocular health and disease. Hence, the cargo carried in EVs from ocular fluids can be used for monitoring disease phenotypes or therapeutic outcomes in eye-related disorders. Furthermore, in recent times EVs have increasingly gained attention as therapeutics and drug-delivery vehicles for treatment of eye diseases. There is a close relationship between EVs and mitochondria functioning with mitochondria dysfunction leading to a significant number of ophthalmic disorders. This review discusses the current knowledge of EVs in visual systems with a special focus on eye diseases resulting from dysfunctional mitochondria.