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Purification and microRNA Profiling of Exosomes Derived from Blood and Culture Media
Published on: June 14, 2013
Exosomes: mediators of communication in eukaryotes
María A Lopez-Verrilli1, Felipe A Court
1Millennium Nucleus for Regenerative Biology, P. Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. alejanddra@gmail.com
Biological Research
|June 14, 2013
Summary
Exosomes are tiny vesicles facilitating intercellular communication across species. This review details their formation, release, uptake, and regulatory roles in recipient cells, highlighting knowledge gaps.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Intercellular communication is vital for multicellular organisms.
- Exosomes, nanovesicles involved in cell-to-cell signaling, have emerged as a significant area of research.
- These vesicles are secreted by various cell types and influence recipient cell function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of exosome biogenesis, release, and uptake.
- To review the diverse biological effects mediated by exosomes.
- To identify and discuss the current knowledge gaps in exosome biology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of exosome formation, trafficking, secretion, and internalization.
- Analysis of the functional roles and biological impacts of exosomes.
- Identification of poorly understood aspects of exosome-mediated communication.
Main Results:
- Exosomes are evolutionarily conserved nanovesicles (40-120 nm) mediating specific intercellular communication.
- Their lifecycle involves formation within multivesicular bodies, secretion, and uptake by recipient cells.
- Exosomes play regulatory roles in target cells, influencing various biological responses.
Conclusions:
- Exosome-mediated communication is a fundamental biological process with broad implications.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex mechanisms and functions of exosomes.
- Understanding exosome pathways is crucial for potential therapeutic applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:36Overview of Exosomes
Exosomes are stable, lipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles capable of crossing biological barriers. They can carry a wide range of molecules required for intercellular communication. Once exosomes are released from the cell where they originated, they enter a recipient cell through various pathways such as fusion, receptor-mediated endocytosis, macropinocytosis, and phagocytosis.
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...
00:51Exocytosis
Exocytosis is used to release material from cells. Like other bulk transport mechanisms, exocytosis requires energy.
00:50Exocytosis
Exocytosis is a process that releases molecules outside the cell. Like other bulk transport mechanisms, exocytosis requires energy.
Exocytosis is the opposite of endocytosis, which brings molecules inside the cell. Sometimes, the released materials are signaling molecules. For example, neurons typically use exocytosis to release neurotransmitters. Cells also use exocytosis to insert proteins such as ion channels into their cell membranes, secrete proteins for use in the extracellular matrix, or...
Exocytosis is the opposite of endocytosis, which brings molecules inside the cell. Sometimes, the released materials are signaling molecules. For example, neurons typically use exocytosis to release neurotransmitters. Cells also use exocytosis to insert proteins such as ion channels into their cell membranes, secrete proteins for use in the extracellular matrix, or...
01:33Overview of Secretory Vesicles
Secretory vesicles, also known as dense core vesicles (DCVs), are membrane-bound vesicles that transport secretory proteins, such as hormones or neurotransmitters. Regulated secretory vesicles transport proteins from the trans-Golgi network to the exterior of the cell. Proteins present in regulated secretory vesicles are required to be rapidly exocytosed in large amounts upon a specific stimulus.
Various proteins regulate the aggregation of molecules inside the secretory vesicles. Chromogranins...
Various proteins regulate the aggregation of molecules inside the secretory vesicles. Chromogranins...
01:37Eukaryotic Compartmentalization
One of the distinguishing features of eukaryotic cells is that they contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, that carry out specialized functions. Since biological membranes are only selectively permeable to solutes, they help create a compartment with controlled conditions inside an organelle. These microenvironments are tailored to the organelle's specific functions and help isolate them from the surrounding cytosol.
For example, lysosomes in the animal cells...
For example, lysosomes in the animal cells...
01:38Intralumenal Vesicles and Multivesicular Bodies
Intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) are small vesicles 50-80 nm in diameter formed during the maturation of early endosomes. A specialized endosome containing numerous ILVs is called a multivesicular body (MVB). ILVs contain internalized molecules such as antigens, nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites. Some of these molecules are released from the MVBs inside exosomes and are transported to other cells. Other MVBs contain molecules that are retained in the ILVs and are later degraded within the...