Review
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World J Clin Urol. Jul 24, 2014; 3(2): 66-80
Published online Jul 24, 2014. doi: 10.5410/wjcu.v3.i2.66
Employing extracellular vesicles for non-invasive renal monitoring: A captivating prospect
Gabriella Pocsfalvi, Christopher Stanly, Annalisa Vilasi, Immacolata Fiume, Rosarita Tatè, Giovambattista Capasso
Gabriella Pocsfalvi, Christopher Stanly, Annalisa Vilasi, Immacolata Fiume, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council of Italy, 80131 Naples, Italy
Rosarita Tatè, Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giovambattista Capasso, Division of Nephrology, Department of Cardio-Vascular Sciences, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Author contributions: Pocsfalvi G substantial contribution to conception, design, acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of the article; Stanly C carried out experiments, analyzed data and contributed to drafting of the article; Vilasi A analyzed data and contributed to drafting of the article; Fiume I carried out experiments, analyzed data; Tatè R carried out experiments and analyzed data; Capasso G conceived experiments, provided access to patients’ samples; all authors contributed to the final manuscript version.
Supported by “Ricercando 2009” funded by the Italian Nephrology Society (SIN)
Correspondence to: Gabriella Pocsfalvi, PhD, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council of Italy, via P. Castellino, 111, 80131 Naples, Italy. gabriella.pocsfalvi@ibbr.cnr.it
Telephone: +39-81-6132585 Fax: +39-81-6132646
Received: April 29, 2014
Revised: June 6, 2014
Accepted: June 27, 2014
Published online: July 24, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Urinary extracellular vesicles research is a fast growing field of biomarker discovery providing new attracting prospective for monitoring tissue alteration in easily accessible clinical samples. Over the past ten years intense research has identified the various urinary vesicular cargo molecules (i.e., RNAs, proteins and lipids) and detected their alterations upon a number of renal diseases. With the number of diseases relating to kidney increasing it is essential to effectively utilize this invaluable tool for the early diagnosis. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of uEVs nicely setting the stage for their utility in future clinical diagnostics.