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Updated: Nov 10, 2025
Extraction of Extracellular Vesicles from Whole Tissue
Published on: February 7, 2019
Extracellular Vesicles: Novel Opportunities to Understand and Detect Neoplastic Diseases
Laura Bongiovanni1,2,3, Anneloes Andriessen1, Marca H M Wauben1
190051Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
With a size range from 30 to 1000 nm, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are one of the smallest cell components able to transport biologically active molecules. They mediate intercellular communications and play a fundamental role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and pathogenesis in several types of diseases. In particular, EVs actively contribute to cancer initiation and progression, and there is emerging understanding of their role in creation of the metastatic niche. This fact underlies the recent exponential growth in EV research, which has improved our understanding of their specific roles in disease and their potential applications in diagnosis and therapy. EVs and their biomolecular cargo reflect the state of the diseased donor cells, and can be detected in body fluids and exploited as biomarkers in cancer and other diseases. Relatively few studies have been published on EVs in the veterinary field. This review provides an overview of the features and biology of EVs as well as recent developments in EV research including techniques for isolation and analysis, and will address the way in which the EVs released by diseased tissues can be studied and exploited in the field of veterinary pathology. Uniquely, this review emphasizes the important contribution that pathologists can make to the field of EV research: pathologists can help EV scientists in studying and confirming the role of EVs and their molecular cargo in diseased tissues and as biomarkers in liquid biopsies.
Insights
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny cell components crucial for intercellular communication and disease, particularly cancer. This review explores EV research, focusing on their role in veterinary pathology and diagnostic potential.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
- Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale biological entities involved in intercellular communication.
- EVs play roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis and contribute to disease pathogenesis, including cancer initiation and metastasis.
- Research into EVs has surged due to their potential in disease diagnosis and therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of extracellular vesicle (EV) features and biology.
- To discuss recent advancements in EV isolation and analysis techniques.
- To explore the application of EVs in veterinary pathology and diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research on extracellular vesicles (EVs).
- Analysis of EV roles in disease, with a focus on cancer.
- Examination of EV isolation and detection methodologies.
- Discussion of the potential contributions of veterinary pathologists to EV research.
Main Results:
- EVs are critical mediators of intercellular communication and disease progression.
- EVs contain biomolecular cargo reflecting the state of their parent cells, making them potential biomarkers.
- There is a significant gap in veterinary research concerning EVs.
Conclusions:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) hold great promise as diagnostic and therapeutic tools across various diseases.
- Further research into EVs is needed, especially within the veterinary field.
- Veterinary pathologists can significantly contribute to understanding and utilizing EVs in disease research and diagnostics.
