Extracellular Vesicles from Immune Cells: A Biomedical Perspective

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cell Biology
• Biomedical Science

Background:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly small EVs (sEVs), play vital roles in intercellular communication, molecule transport, and regulating physiological processes like metabolism, differentiation, inflammation, and immunity.
• While the role of EVs in immunity is recognized, a comprehensive review focusing on sEVs released by immune cells (leukocytes) is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on the release of sEVs by various leukocyte types.
• To discuss the implications of immune cell-derived sEVs on cellular homeostasis.
• To explore the functions of these sEVs in physiological and pathological states, and their biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of studies reporting sEV release from leukocytes.
• Analysis of reported functions and implications of immune cell-derived sEVs.

Main Results:

• Leukocytes actively release sEVs, contributing to intercellular signaling.
• Immune cell-derived sEVs are implicated in maintaining cellular homeostasis.
• These sEVs have significant roles in immune responses and are linked to various pathological conditions.

Conclusions:

• Immune cell-derived sEVs are critical mediators of immune function and cellular balance.
• Understanding their roles offers potential for novel biomedical applications in diagnostics and therapeutics.