Fig. 2.

MV-mediated intercellular communication. Components of donor cells are incorporated into MVs which contain proteins (e.g., signaling proteins, transcriptional regulators, RT, and transmembrane proteins), RNAs (i.e., mRNAs, miRNAs, and ncRNAs), and DNA (i.e., cDNA and genomic DNA). MVs can be taken up by recipient cells through endocytosis and release their contents after fusing with the endosomal membrane, or fusion at the plasma membrane. 1 Transmembrane proteins can be transferred to the plasma membrane and trigger signaling. 2 Transcriptional regulators can potentially be transferred into the nucleus and regulate promoter activity. 3 mRNAs/ miRNAs can be transferred and influence the translational profile. 4 Donor cell-derived cDNAs, e.g., c-Myc can be delivered directly within MVs. 5 or generated from reverse-transcribed mRNAs in the cell of origin, within MVs or possibly in the recipient cell. 6 Retrotransposon and other DNA elements from MVs may integrate into the recipient cell genome. In one scenario, the donor cell is a tumor cell and the recipient cells are normal cells in the microenvironment. These MV delivery events have the potential to change the phenotype of normal cells to make them more supportive of tumor growth (figure modified from Dr. Charles Lai; produced using Servier Medical Art, http://www.servier.com)