Figure 1.

Biogenesis and features of apoptosis bodies (ABs), microvesicles (MVs), and exosomes. Each of the three classes of extracellular vesicle (EV) are characterised by unique biogenesis pathways, molecular markers, and cargo. ABs emerge as the cytoskeleton of apoptotic cells are disassembled and contain various cellular components such as organelles and nuclear fractions. MVs contain a variety of molecular cargo, including DNA, RNA, and protein, and are produced by the cell membrane budding and fission. Exosomes are the smallest class of EV, and are enriched in DNA, RNA, and proteins, and originate from the multivesicular body (MVB).