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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Mar 5.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Immunol. 2014 Mar;14(3):195–208. doi: 10.1038/nri3622

Figure 4. Mechanism of transfer of exosomal shuttle RNAs between cells.

Figure 4

mRNAs and small non-coding RNAs, including miRNAs are transported inside the lumen of secreted EVs. Once released, the EVs are trapped by acceptor cells. Release of the vesicular RNAs into the cytosol of the target cell requires fusion of the exosome membrane with the plasma membrane or more likely with the limiting membrane of endocytic vesicles, once the EVs are internalized.