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Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Evaluation of the Storage Stability of Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: May 22, 2019
Extracellular Vesicles as "Very Important Particles" (VIPs) in Aging
Cristina Mas-Bargues1, Matilde Alique2,3
1Grupo de Investigación Freshage, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERFES-ISCIII), Instituto Sanitario de Investigación INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
Abstract:
In recent decades, extracellular vesicles have been recognized as "very important particles" (VIPs) associated with aging and age-related disease. During the 1980s, researchers discovered that these vesicle particles released by cells were not debris but signaling molecules carrying cargoes that play key roles in physiological processes and physiopathological modulation. Following the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) recommendation, different vesicle particles (e.g., exosomes, microvesicles, oncosomes) have been named globally extracellular vesicles. These vesicles are essential to maintain body homeostasis owing to their essential and evolutionarily conserved role in cellular communication and interaction with different tissues. Furthermore, recent studies have shown the role of extracellular vesicles in aging and age-associated diseases. This review summarizes the advances in the study of extracellular vesicles, mainly focusing on recently refined methods for their isolation and characterization. In addition, the role of extracellular vesicles in cell signaling and maintenance of homeostasis, as well as their usefulness as new biomarkers and therapeutic agents in aging and age-associated diseases, has also been highlighted.
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