Internal Medicine: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Microvesicles as Biomarkers in Diabetes, Obesity and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

Joshua Welsh, Judith Holloway and Nicola Englyst

NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease, frequently associated with diabetes. Both of these insulin resistant states have increased cardiovascular risk factors associated, and a prevalent cause of mortality in these diseases. Microvesicles are heterogonously sized, phospholipid rich spheres released by cells upon activation and apoptosis. Evidence is continuing to accumulate of microvesicles being not only markers of disease severity but as also having a functional role in the pathophysiology of disease progression.