Table 1.

Comparison between pathogen-derived and mammalian cell-derived MV

	Microbe-derived MV	Mammalian cell-derived MV
Origin	bacteria, fungus, protozoan pathogens	all mammalian cells
Size	20–250 nm	100 nm – 1 um
Formation	budding of outer membrane and vesiculation	cell membrane blebbing and vesiculation
Release	all stages of growth and activation	cell activation and apoptosis
Content	RNA, DNA, enzymes, LPS	RNA, protein and membrane receptors
Function	deliver of virulent factors and resistance to antibiotics; pro-inflammatory; immuno-stimulatory, or anti-tumor depending on target host cells	transfer of signaling molecules and functional genetic information; remove cellular waste; thrombogenic; pro-inflammatory and immuno-stimulatory depending upon stimuli to cell of origin