Size distribution of serum extracellular vesicles in mice with atherosclerosis

Abstract Background and aims Atherosclerosis is a prominent vascular lesion, and potentially causing ischemic alterations in the brain and heart. Recent studies have reported that physiological and pathological alterations in atherosclerosis and extracellular vesicles (EV) are related. This study aimed to investigate the association between the extent of atherosclerotic lesions and the number of serum EVs in a mouse model of atherosclerosis (wild-type). Methods Eighteen 3-week-old C57BL/6 N male mice(wild-type) were purchased. Twelve mice were fed a 45% high-fat diet (HFD) for six months. Six mice were provided standard laboratory chow for six months. The entire aorta, from the aortic sinus to the division of the iliac artery, was dissected out from each mouse. Furthermore, the degree of atherosclerosis was microscopically determined. Serum EVs were quantified by size via nanoparticle tracking analysis. Results The number of EVs in the high-atherosclerotic score group (1.43 × 109) was higher than that in the low- atherosclerotic score group (0.7 × 109) in the range of 211.5 to 222.5 nm (p = 0.033). Conclusions Enumeration of EVs is a potential method of detecting atherosclerosis.