Key result
Extracellular vesicle-derived markers demonstrate diagnostic and predictive potential in mood disorders, though only 35.55% of current studies utilized brain-derived EVs.
Why the study?
Extracellular vesicles provide a non-invasive peripheral marker of central nervous system activity, motivating a synthesis of studies investigating their use in mood disorders within clinical populations.
Do extracellular vesicles serve as viable diagnostic and predictive biomarkers in patients with mood disorders?
Systematic Review
Do extracellular vesicles serve as viable diagnostic and predictive biomarkers in patients with mood disorders?
Extracellular vesicles and their cargo show promise as non-invasive peripheral biomarkers for diagnosing and tracking treatment response in mood disorders.
• EV studies target MDD, BD, postpartum, adolescent, and late-life depression. • EV cargo provides mechanistic insights and links to neuroimaging findings in MD. • EV-derived markers hold promise for diagnosis and treatment response in MD. • EV physical properties may offer additional clinical insights into MD. • Future research should prioritize brain-derived EVs and standardized methodologies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, membrane-bound particles that are naturally released by nearly all cell types in the body. They serve as molecular biosignatures, reflecting the state of their cells of origin and providing a non-invasive peripheral marker of central nervous system (CNS) activity under physiological and pathological conditions. We conducted a systematic review (ID: CRD42024528824) of studies investigating the use of EVs in mood disorders within clinical populations. We screened articles indexed in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and APA PsycInfo from January 2010 to October 2024. Available research has focused on four key areas: (1) EV cargo as mechanistic and diagnostic biomarkers; (2) EV cargo as predictive or tracking biomarkers for antidepressant response; (3) EV cargo and neuroimaging correlates; and (4) EV physical properties. Most studies examined major depressive disorder (MDD), with others addressing bipolar disorder (BD), adolescent depression, postpartum depression, and late-life depression. Notably, only 35,55 % of the studies utilized brain-derived EVs. Through analyses of EV-derived miRNA, proteins, mtDNA, and metabolites, these studies have explored neural mitochondrial function, brain insulin resistance, neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and blood-brain barrier permeability in the context of mood disorders. Some EV-derived markers demonstrated diagnostic and predictive potential. This review discusses key findings, limitations of current research, and future directions for leveraging EVs in the study of mood disorders.
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Llach et al. (2025) conducted a systematic review in Mood disorders. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) was evaluated on Diagnostic and predictive potential of EV-derived markers. Extracellular vesicle-derived markers demonstrate diagnostic and predictive potential in mood disorders, though only 35.55% of current studies utilized brain-derived EVs.
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