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Ludwig et al. Vessel Plus 2020;4:8 Vessel Plus
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2019.37

Perspective Open Access

Role of exosome-associated adenosine in promoting

angiogenesis

1,2
3
Nils Ludwig , Edwin K. Jackson , Theresa L. Whiteside 1,2,4
1 Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
2 UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
3 Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
4 Departments of Immunology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Correspondence to: Dr. Theresa L. Whiteside, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, UPCI Research Pavilion, Suite 1.27, 5117 Centre
Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. E-mail: whitesidetl@upmc.edu
How to cite this article: Ludwig N, Jackson EK, Whiteside TL. Role of exosome-associated adenosine in promoting angiogenesis.
Vessel Plus 2020;4:8. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1209.2019.37

Received: 26 Dec 2019 First Decision: 4 Mar 2020 Revised: 6 Mar 2020 Accepted: 17 Mar 2020 Published: 10 Apr 2020
Science Editor: Narasimham L. Parinandi Copy Editor: Jing-Wen Zhang Production Editor: Tian Zhang

Abstract
The role of exosomes in different physiological and pathological settings is an emerging field of great current interest. One
hallmark of exosomes is the promotion of blood vessel formation. Exosomes of different cellular origin have been shown
to be enriched in angiogenic proteins which directly promote angiogenesis. In addition, exosomes are also efficacious
producers of adenosine and potentially encapsulate adenosine in their lumen. The adenosine content of exosomes
has been linked to their immunosuppressive effects. In this communication, we consider the possibility that adenosine
production by tumor cell-derived exosomes may represent a novel pathway for stimulation of angiogenesis in the tumor
microenvironment.

Keywords: Exosomes, extracellular vesicles, angiogenesis, adenosine, adenosine receptors, endothelial cells

INTRODUCTION
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their functional role in health and disease are of great current interest.
Especially exosomes, a virus-size subset of EVs (~30-100 nm), show great potential as disease biomarkers,
drug carriers, or therapeutics. They are actively produced by parent cells and carry a complex cargo, which
[1]
includes proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids .

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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