Circulating total extracellular vesicles cargo are associated with age-related oxidative stress and susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases: exploratory results from microarray data

Aging is a risk factor for many non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Aging could impact the extracellular vesicles and particles (EVPs) miRNA profile and impair redox homeostasis, contributing to chronic age-related diseases. We aimed to investigate the microRNA profiles of circulating total EVPs from aged and young adult animals. Plasma from 3- and 21-month-old male Wistar rats was collected and circulating total EVPs were isolated. MicroRNA isolation and microarray expression analysis were performed on EVPs to determine the predicted regulation of targeted mRNAs. 31 mature miRNAs in circulating EVPs were impacted by age and predicted to target molecules in canonical pathways directly related to cardiovascular diseases and oxidative status. Our data show that circulating total EVP cargo, specifically microRNAs, are involved in redox imbalance in the aging process and can potentially drive cardiovascular aging and consequently cardiac disease. EVPs miRNA was isolated from the plasma of young adult (3-month old, n=10) and aged (21-month-old, n=11) male Wistar rats. Total RNA was extracted using mirVana microRNA Isolation kits (Life Technologies). Total RNA was amplified with the Complete Seramir Exosome