Biogenesis, secretion, and intercellular interactions of exosomes and other extracellular vesicles

M Colombo, G Raposo, C Théry - Annual review of cell and …, 2014 - annualreviews.org
M Colombo, G Raposo, C Théry
Annual review of cell and developmental biology, 2014annualreviews.org
In the 1980s, exosomes were described as vesicles of endosomal origin secreted from
reticulocytes. Interest increased around these extracellular vesicles, as they appeared to
participate in several cellular processes. Exosomes bear proteins, lipids, and RNAs,
mediating intercellular communication between different cell types in the body, and thus
affecting normal and pathological conditions. Only recently, scientists acknowledged the
difficulty of separating exosomes from other types of extracellular vesicles, which precludes …
In the 1980s, exosomes were described as vesicles of endosomal origin secreted from reticulocytes. Interest increased around these extracellular vesicles, as they appeared to participate in several cellular processes. Exosomes bear proteins, lipids, and RNAs, mediating intercellular communication between different cell types in the body, and thus affecting normal and pathological conditions. Only recently, scientists acknowledged the difficulty of separating exosomes from other types of extracellular vesicles, which precludes a clear attribution of a particular function to the different types of secreted vesicles. To shed light into this complex but expanding field of science, this review focuses on the definition of exosomes and other secreted extracellular vesicles. Their biogenesis, their secretion, and their subsequent fate are discussed, as their functions rely on these important processes.
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