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Overview of Exosomes

Overview 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...

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Purification and Transplantation of Myogenic Progenitor Cell Derived Exosomes to Improve Cardiac Function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophic Mice

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Exosomes for Intramyocardial Intercellular Communication.

Elisabetta Cervio¹, Lucio Barile¹, Tiziano Moccetti¹

¹Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, Fondazione Cardiocentro Ticino, Via Tesserete, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland ; Swiss Institute of Regenerative Medicine (SIRM), Taverne, Switzerland.

Stem Cells International

|June 20, 2015

Summary

Cardiomyocyte exosomes mediate intercellular communication in the heart, influencing gene expression in fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Cardiac progenitor cell-derived exosomes show therapeutic potential, reducing infarct size and improving cardiac function post-heart attack.

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Intramyocardial Cell Delivery: Observations in Murine Hearts

Intramyocardial Cell Delivery: Observations in Murine Hearts

Published on: January 24, 2014

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Biology
Cellular Communication
Extracellular Vesicles

Background:

Intercellular communication is vital for cardiac homeostasis and stress response.
Cardiomyocytes (CMs) interact with endothelial cells (ECs) and fibroblasts.
Exosomes are emerging as key mediators of these cellular messages.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of exosomes in cardiac cell cross-talk.
To explore the therapeutic potential of exosomes in heart disease.

Main Methods:

Analysis of exosome content from cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, cardiac fibroblasts, and cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs).
Investigating the effects of cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes on fibroblasts and ECs.
Evaluating the impact of CPC-derived exosomes in vivo models of myocardial infarction.

Main Results:

Exosomes secreted by CMs, ECs, cardiac fibroblasts, and CPCs contain specific molecular cargo.
CM-derived exosomes regulate gene expression in cardiac fibroblasts and ECs.
CPC-derived exosomes protect CMs from apoptosis, promote angiogenesis, reduce infarct size, and improve cardiac function.

Conclusions:

Exosomes are critical mediators of intercellular communication within the heart.
Exosomes, particularly those from CPCs, hold significant therapeutic promise for treating heart disease.