What are exosomes?
Cells constantly communicate with each other. They do this in many ways, including by releasing small membrane-bound particles called extracellular vesicles. Exosomes are one type of extracellular vesicle. They can carry a mixture of biological messages, including proteins, fats and genetic material, from one cell to another.
Because exosomes can influence how other cells behave, they are thought to play important roles in both health and disease. However, exosomes are highly diverse, and this variation has made it difficult for researchers to study them in detail or use them reliably in the clinic.
What the article explores
The Opinion article, co-authored by Professor Deborah Goberdhan ( Nuffield Dept. of Women's & Reproductive Health) Professor Adrian L Harris ( Department of Oncology) and Professor Clive Wilson ( Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics) considers how the origins of exosomes inside cells may shape their structure and function.
Exosomes form within internal cell compartments before being released outside the cell. Traditionally, researchers focused mainly on one type of compartment as the source of these vesicles. However, newer research suggests that several different internal membranes and cellular compartments can contribute to exosome formation.
This matters because exosomes are not all the same. Their internal origin may help determine what they carry, where they go, and how they affect recipient cells.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health website.