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Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Evaluation of the Storage Stability of Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: May 22, 2019
Extracellular vesicles in bone homeostasis: key roles of physiological and pathological conditions
Takaaki Tamura1,2, Yusuke Yoshioka1, Shinichi Sakamoto2
1Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
Abstract:
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small particles with lipid bilayer membranes that are secreted by all cell types and are widely known as crucial intercellular communication mediators, shuttling biologically active molecules. The bone is a typically preferred site of cancer metastasis due to its unique cellular compositions and dynamics. Bone cell-derived EVs serve as regulators that orchestrate harmonious bone homeostasis. Cancer cells secrete specific EVs in a series of the bone metastatic process to dominate the bone microenvironment. Additionally, cancer cell-related EVs contribute to pre-metastatic niche formation, bone homeostasis disruption, and tumor bone progression and survival. Here, we investigated recent studies on EV-mediated crosstalk in the bone tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, this review aimed to elucidate the EV-based therapeutic perspectives for bone metastasis.
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