Angiogenic potential of plasma-derived extracellular vesicles from impaired fasting glucose patients: A pilot study

Background: The goal of this study was to analyze the in vitro effect of plasma-isolated extracellular vesicles (EVs) from patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) on cell migration and angiogenic score on human endothelial cells (EA.hy926) cultures. Methods: Plasma samples from five patients with IFG, five with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and five normoglycemic subjects (controls) were used. Plasma-derived EVs were characterized by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and Western blotting, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), and endoglin detected in EVs by flow cytometry; wound closure assays and angiogenic score by matrigel assays in EA.hy926 cells were performed. Results: EA.hy926 cell migration induced by plasma-derived EVs from patients with IFG was greater than in control subjects (P = 0.023). EVs from patients with T2DM and IFG induced higher angiogenic scores than EVs from control subjects (P = 0.012 and P = 0.036, respectively). Conclusions: Endoglin and VEGFR-2 levels in EVs from IFG or T2DM patients were not different from those in control subjects. Plasma-derived EVs from patients with IFG and T2DM positively influenced human endothelial cell migration and angiogenic activity in vitro.