Surface Problem: Unveiling Extracellular Vesicles Surface Markers and Their Implications for Central Nervous System...

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a broad category of small vesicles released by cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that facilitate intercellular communication and contribute to various diseases. In neuroscience, one of the most important and well-characterized EV subtypes is exosomes. However, current issues with EV nomenclature make it difficult to draw firm conclusions due to variability in usage across different studies. One solution to overcome this challenge is to use established markers for isolating different types of CNS-derived EVs. This article provides an up-to-date list of potential EV markers, focusing on surface markers. We discuss the role of EVs in CNS diseases and explore each candidate's potential to be used as a specific EV surface marker. We also highlight how non-adherence to EV nomenclature leads to confusion and misuse of EV markers. Additional challenges in EV research, such as isolation methods and the lack of comparative studies between plasma and tissue-derived EVs, are discussed. Providing a list of new possible CNS-derived EV marker candidates can lead to more precise isolation and description of EVs, thereby enhancing our understanding of EV signaling and advancing our knowledge of neurological diseases.