Extracellular microvesicles (MVs) and exosomes (EXs) are recognized as potential biomarkers for a wide spectrum of diseases including vascular diseases, neurological diseases, and cancers. Because of their ability in mediating cell-cell communication, MVs and EXs are functional. Although their functions are largely unknown, MVs and EXs are important therapeutic targets/tools of diseases. It has been suggested that circulating miRNAs are mainly encapsulated in MVs/EXs, which transport miRNAs from parental cells to neighboring and distant cells. Although significant advances have been made in the field of stem cell research during the past decades, there is less information regarding the physiological and pathological roles of MVs and EXs released from stem cells. Meanwhile, there is an urgent need for identifying sensitive and specific biomarkers of different diseases and developing new therapies for these unmet medical needs.

In the current special issue, reviews and original articles about novel studies of stem cell-released MVs and EXs as biomarkers and treatments of cardiovascular and neurological diseases and tumors are welcomed.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Novel methodologies for isolation, detection, and purification of MVs and EXs released from stem cells, such as endothelial progenitors, neuron progenitors, tumor stem cells, and novel animal models and experimental procedures for facilitating the research of MVs/EXs
• Characterizing the cargos carried by MVs and EXs released from stem cells, including microRNAs, lncRNAs, proteins, and mRNAs
• Novel biomarkers of MVs and EXs released from stem cells for cardiovascular and neurological diseases and tumors which improve the sensitivity and specificity over current biomarkers
• Novel treatments/targets of MVs and EXs for cardiovascular and neurological diseases and tumors
• Preclinical and clinical studies that help in understanding the pathology underlying cardiovascular and neurological diseases and tumors