Figure 2.

Milk EVs; source and role in cross-species inter-individual communication. (A). Milk EVs are highly heterogenous and are secreted into the milk by a variety of cells residing in the source organism’s mammary gland; mammary epithelial cells, immune cells, stem cells, bacteria and adipocytes. These vesicles are distinct from the MFGs and carry a diverse cargo of bioactive compounds. (B) Upon milk consumption, these EVs can survive the harsh, degrading conditions of recipient’s gut. These EVs are then either taken up by the IECs (transendocytosis) or pass through the leaky epithelial gut (paracellular translocation), eventually entering the systemic circulation.