动脉粥样硬化是一种慢性炎症性疾病.临床上使用的抗动脉粥样硬化药物的目标主要集中在减少循环低密度脂蛋白水平,升高高密度脂蛋白水平,并减轻炎症.然而,心血管疾病的发病率和死亡率仍然很高.因此,识别未知的治疗靶点和开发新的抗动脉粥样硬化药物的需求越来越大.外泌体是活细胞分泌的来源于晚期核内体(也称为多囊泡体)的膜性囊泡.外泌体内含有与来源细胞相关的蛋白质、rRNA和微小RNA,并能够通过生物屏障,从而发挥各种生物学功能.外泌体有望成为一种治疗动脉粥样硬化的新型给药途径及基因治疗载体.“,”Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease.The objective of the clinical use of antiatherosclerotic drugs is to decrease circulating low density lipoprotein level,increase high density lipoprotein level,and reduce inflammation.However,the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease remain high.Therefore,the identification of unknown therapeutic targets and the development of new anti-atherosclerotic drugs is growing.Exosome is a kind of membrane vesicles derived from late nuclear endosome (also known as polycystic body) secreted by living cells.Exosome contains protein,rRNA,and micro RNA,which are related to the source cells,and it can pass the biological barrier and produce various biological functions.Exosome is expected to become a novel drug delivery pathway and gene therapy vector for the treatment of atherosclerosis.