Microparticles in kidney diseases: focus on kidney transplantation

Background: Microparticles are small (0.1–1 μm), extracellular vesicles that are used as diagnostic and prognostics markers of kidney diseases and kidney transplantation. They contain cytoplasm and surface markers of their cells of origin. The aim of this review is to describe the functional capabilities of microparticles in kidney diseases with focus on kidney transplantion. Main body: Microparticles represent a novel and potentially important method of cell–cell communication, regulating a number of physiological/pathophysiological processes. Increased levels of circulating microparticles, mainly originating from platelets and endothelial cells, have been proposed as causing vascular and endothelial dysfunction in renal diseases. Furthermore, higher levels of endothelial MPs that are observed in hemodialyzed patients reached to normal values after graft. Circulating microparticles have been used in kidney rejection and transplant vasculopathy. The genetic content of circulating microvesicles may have great use for diagnostic and prognostic purposes after organ transplantation. Conclusion: Microparticles may be a novel marker for creation and diagnosis of different diseases in kidney diseases especially kidney transplantion that imply for further research.