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Updated: Jul 30, 2025

Characterization of Immune Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles and Studying Functional Impact on Cell Environment
Published on: June 2, 2020
Extracellular vesicles: A new communication paradigm of complement in neurological diseases
Xinmei Gu1, Anqi Chen1, Ying Su1
1Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Abstract:
The complement system is crucial to the innate immune system. It has the function of destroying pathogens by activating the classical, alternative, and lectin pathways. The complement system is important in nervous system diseases such as cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Activation of the complement system involves a series of intercellular signaling and cascade reactions. However, research on the source and transport mechanisms of the complement system in neurological diseases is still in its infancy. Studies have increasingly found that extracellular vesicles (EVs), a classic intercellular communication paradigm, may play a role in complement signaling disorders. Here, we systematically review the EV-mediated activation of complement pathways in different neurological diseases. We also discuss the prospect of EVs as future immunotherapy targets.
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