Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2025
10:09
Characterization of Immune Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles and Studying Functional Impact on Cell Environment
Published on: June 2, 2020
6.9K
Inter-neuronal signaling mediated by small extracellular vesicles: wireless communication?
Damaris Nieves Torres1, Sang H Lee1,2
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
|May 14, 2023
Summary
Neurons communicate wirelessly using small extracellular vesicles (EVs), not just chemical synapses. These vesicles carry biomolecules, influencing neuronal functions and circuit homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Traditional neuronal communication relies on chemical synapses.
- Emerging evidence highlights synapse-independent, wireless communication via small extracellular vesicles (EVs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent discoveries in small EV-mediated neuronal communication.
- To catalog neuronal small EV-specific biomolecules.
- To discuss the scope of this signaling pathway.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on neuronal small EVs and exosomes.
- Analysis of biomolecules within neuronal EVs.
- Discussion of functional implications.
Main Results:
- Small EVs, including exosomes, are secreted by neurons and contain signaling molecules (mRNAs, miRNAs, proteins, lipids).
- Neurons uptake small EVs via membrane fusion or endocytosis.
- Neuronal small EVs influence axon guidance, synapse formation/elimination, firing, and potentiation.
Conclusions:
- Small EVs mediate volume transmission, crucial for activity-dependent neuronal function.
- EV signaling plays a role in maintaining local neural circuitry homeostasis.
- This pathway offers a novel perspective on inter-neuronal communication.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Synaptic Signaling
75.2K
Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
75.2K
01:28Neuronal Communication
1.1K
Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...
1.1K
02:03What is Cell Signaling?
119.5K
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
119.5K
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
20.5K
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
20.5K
01:24Intracellular Signaling Cascades
47.1K
Once a ligand binds to a receptor, the signal is transmitted through the membrane and into the cytoplasm. The continuation of a signal in this manner is called signal transduction. Signal transduction only occurs with cell-surface receptors, which cannot interact with most components of the cell, such as DNA. Only internal receptors can interact directly with DNA in the nucleus to initiate protein synthesis. When a ligand binds to its receptor, conformational changes occur that affect the...
47.1K
01:32Types of Signaling Molecules
10.4K
In multicellular organisms, many molecules transmit signals between cells to pass information. These signals vary in complexity and include small peptides, nucleotides, steroids, fatty acid derivatives, and dissolved gases such as nitric oxide. Some signaling molecules diffuse through the plasma membrane to act locally between neighboring cells or travel long distances. Others remain attached to the cell surface, transmitting information to other cells only when they make contact. In some...
10.4K