Zhenyu Yao, Wenbin Chen, Shanshan Shao, Shizhan Ma, Chongbo Yang, Mengzhu Li, Jiajun Zhao, Ling Gao
Metabolic disorder is a complex disease caused by metabolic dysfunction, classified clinically as a variety of diseases including metabolic syndrome, obesity and diabetes mellitus. Fatty toxicity, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, which may change cellular function, are considered to play an essential role in the pathogenetic progress of metabolic disorder. Recent studies have found that cells secrete nanoscale vesicles containing protein, lipids, nucleic acids and membrane receptors from the releasing cells, mediating signal transduction and material transport to neighboring and distant cells. Exosomes, one member of vesicles, are reported to regulate the physiological function and pathological processes of metabolic disorders. Their applications in clinical diagnosis and treatments have drawn much attention. In this paper, we summarize the exosomes’ structures, contents, functions, extractions and its potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in metabolic disorders.