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Organizing polarized delivery of exosomes at synapses

Maria Mittelbrunn1, Miguel Vicente Manzanares2, Francisco Sánchez-Madrid1,2

  • 1Vascular Biology and Inflammation Department, Centro Nacional Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain.

Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark)
|January 24, 2015
PubMed

Insights

This review explores how multivesicular bodies (MVBs) deliver exosomes to specific cell membrane sites. It highlights cytoskeletal mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in polarized exosome secretion.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Extracellular Vesicles
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Exosomes are key mediators of intercellular communication, originating from multivesicular bodies (MVBs).
  • MVBs typically undergo non-polarized secretion, fusing with the plasma membrane for exosome release.
  • Polarized signaling, however, can direct MVBs for targeted exosome delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of polarized multivesicular body (MVB) docking.
  • To explore the mechanisms specifying secretory sites at the plasma membrane for exosome release.
  • To propose how biochemical and mechanical signals drive polarized exosome delivery in specialized cells.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on MVB polarization and exosome secretion.
  • Analysis of cytoskeletal roles in MVB trafficking.
  • Integration of signaling pathway data relevant to polarized secretion.

Main Results:

  • MVB polarization is observed in various cellular contexts, including synapses and migrating cells.
  • Cytoskeletal-dependent trafficking is crucial for MVB positioning and exosome release.
  • Specific biochemical and mechanical cues are implicated in directing polarized exosome delivery.

Conclusions:

  • Polarized exosome secretion is a regulated process involving directed MVB trafficking.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is vital for comprehending cell-to-cell communication in polarized cells.
  • Future research should focus on the interplay of signals governing polarized exosome release.
Keywords:
cell cytoskeletonexosomesmultivesicular bodiesphospholipidspolarized secretionsynapses

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