Tiny particles made from red blood cells may treat atherosclerosis and other diseases

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up inside artery walls. This can lead to plaque formation, which can block arteries and cause heart attacks and strokes. Immune cells play a key role in cleaning the blood, by interacting with red blood cell extracellular vesicles (RBCEVs), which are nano-sized particles released by red blood cells.

Commonly referred to as “first responders” to infections, macrophages are immune cells which detect and clear pathogens and dead cells, and secrete molecules to activate other immune cells. To…